The artwork “Reclining Diana,” created around 1515 by Lucas Cranach the Elder, is an oil painting on panel representing the Northern Renaissance art movement. The painting, a mythological artwork, currently resides in the Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’archéologie de Besançon, located in Besançon, France.
In the artwork, Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt and the moon, is depicted in a sensuous, reclining pose. She appears nude, lying on a lush ground covered in greenery and surrounded by nature. Her demeanor is serene and relaxed, her head resting on her right arm while her left hand lies casually across her body. A red cloth and a necklace made of beads adorn her figure, adding a touch of elegance. Behind her, a quiver holding arrows hangs on a tree, indicating her identity as a huntress. The setting suggests a sacred grove or forest, with a distant landscape visible beyond the tree line. The composition is detailed and naturalistic, characteristic of the Northern Renaissance style, portraying a sense of tranquility and mythical beauty.
