01 Painting, Olympian deities, by the Old Masters, Giovanni Domenico Cerrini's Diana, with footnotes # 40

Giovanni Domenico Cerrini, (Perugia 1609-1681 Rome)

Detail; Diana

Oil on canvas

88.9 x 73.7cm (35 x 29in)

Private collection

Giovanni Domenico Cerrini, (Perugia 1609-1681 Rome)

Diana

Oil on canvas

88.9 x 73.7cm (35 x 29in)

Private collection

Estimated at £15,000 - £20,000 in December 2019

In Roman mythology, Diana was the goddess of the hunt, the moon and nature being associated with wild animals and woodland, and having the power to talk to and control animals. She was eventually equated with the Greek goddess Artemis, though she had an independent origin in Italy. Diana was worshipped in ancient Roman religion and is revered in Roman Neopaganism and Stregheria. Diana was known to be the virgin goddess of childbirth and women. She was one of the three maiden goddesses — along with Minerva and Vesta — who swore never to marry. More on Diane

Giovanni Domenico Cerrini (1609–1681) was a painter of the Baroque period, born in Perugia and active mainly in Rome and influenced in large part by painters of the Bolognese School.

Cerrini initially apprenticed under Giovanni Antonio Scaramuccia, then in 1638 moved into the Roman studio of Guido Reni. He was strongly influenced also by Lanfranco, Guercino, Domenichino and Andrea Sacchi. He was patronized by the family of Cardinal Bernardino Spada. Cardinal Giulio Rospigliosi gave him the commission to decorate the cupola of Santa Maria della Vittoria (1654–1655).

Paintings of his can be found in many of the churches of Rome, where he died, including Santa Maria in Traspontina, San Carlino alle Quattro Fontane, Santa Maria in Vallicella, San Carlo ai Catinari, Santissimo Sudario dei Piemontesi, Sant’Isidoro, as well as in Galleria Colonna, Palazzo Spada, and the Palazzo Corsini art gallery. More on Giovanni Domenico Cerrini

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, 365 Saints, 365 Days, and Biblical Icons, also visit my Boards on Pinterest

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