Study for 'Diana and Actaeon'

Thomas Gainsborough (1727 - 1788)

Gainsborough's House

circa 1784-1786

This is taken from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' which describes the hunter Actaeon inadvertently happening upon the goddess Diana bathing with her nymphs. Enraged that a mortal has seen her naked, Diana throws water at Actaeon, transforming him into a stag, which is subsequently devoured by his hunting hounds. This is the earliest of three surviving studies for the work in the Royal Collection.

• Medium: black & white chalk with grey & grey-black washes & gouache on buff paper
• Dimensions: 27.4 x 36.4cm
• Art Fund Grant: £31000
• ArtFunded in: 1996
• Vendor: Henry Wemyss

Provenance

Sir Richard Wallace; Sir John Murray Scott; Lady sackville; Nigel Nicholson; Marchioness of Angsley; Hon. Rupert Paget; Sothebys.

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