Seated figure of Diana the huntress

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Seated Figure of Diana the Huntress a exquisite 17th-century print through the collaboration of three masterful artists: designed by Flemish painter Pieter van Avont etched by Bohemian virtuoso Wenceslaus Hollar and refined with drypoint and engraving by Paulusius around 1644–52. This fourth and final state captures the Roman goddess of the hunt in a poised, seated pose amid trees, accompanied by her loyal dogs—and intriguingly, musical instruments, blending mythology with unexpected pastoral leisure. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it measures a intimate 8¼ × 6⅛ inches, perfect for close contemplation. Hollar's etching forms the intricate base, with Pontius's burin-worked engravings adding sharp highlights and textures, showcasing the era's innovative printmaking. During the Baroque period, such multi-technique prints were prized for their fidelity to paintings, making elite art accessible via affordable reproductions. This piece exemplifies Flemish-Dutch mastery, where fine lines evoke Diana's graceful form and naturalistic surroundings. As part of The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, it highlights the cultural reverence for classical myths, inviting us to ponder Diana's dual role as fierce huntress and serene musician in 17th-century imagination—a timeless fusion of elegance and wilderness.

About the Artist

Wenceslaus Hollar|Pieter van Avont|Paulus Pontius · 1607–1677

Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) was a prolific Bohemian etcher who became one of the most accomplished printmakers of the seventeenth century. Born in Prague, he trained under Matthäus Merian in Frankfurt before entering the service of Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel, in 1636. Hollar spent most of his career in England, where he produced approximately 2,740 etchings documenting an extraordinary range...