“The Death of Actaeon”
Today, to the Venetian School of the Italian Renaissance.
“The Death of Actaeon” is an oil on canvas painting by the Italian Renaissance artist, Titian. This piece was painted from 1559 until 1576, the year that he died. Titian was one of the top artists of the Venetian School of Art during the Italian High Renaissance.
Art historians are conflicted as to whether or not this painting was finished. It remained in Titian’s studio until his death, in 1576. Research has shown that he reworked many areas of the canvas repeatedly during the 1560s and 1570s. It was painted as a sequel to Titian’s painting, “Diana and Actaeon”, which he made between 1556 and 1559. Both paintings were made for King Philip II of Spain.
The story of Diana and Actaeon was featured by Ovid in his famous poem, Metamorphoses. In Book III, Ovid tells the story of Diana, the Goddess of the Hunt, and Actaeon, a hero from Thebes. In the story, Actaeon accidentally finds Diana’s private bathing area while hunting on Mount Cithaeron. As he walks unknowingly into the scene, he sees Diana naked, as nymphs help her bathe. This usually chaste goddess is angry for this violation of her privacy. She splashes water into his face and dares him to boast of what he has seen. In retaliation, as he turns to run away, Diana turns Actaeon into a stag and hunts him down.
During the chase, Actaeon stumbles into a stream. Thirsty, he bends to drink the cold water. It is only then that he realizes that he’s been turned into a stag. Just after this discovery, Diana, the patron goddess of hunters, finds Actaeon. She sends his own hounds at him, and they maul him to death. Only after he dies, is she satisfied.
Titian depicts Actaeon with the body of a man and the head of a stag. This dramatically shows the viewers the transformation of Actaeon by Diana, who stands to the left of the canvas. She is holding up her bow and poised as if she has just flung an arrow at him.
Both “The Death of Actaeon” and “Diana and Actaeon” are currently on display at the National Gallery in London, England.
For more on Titian, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
