Public domain
Diana and Actaeon Cup
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Love only blossoms under optimal conditions, as depicted here. The scene on the lid shows that love (Venus) needs sufficient food (Ceres) and drink (Bacchus). The depiction on the cup itself makes clear that love does not tolerate betrayal: Diana, goddess of the hunt, is spied on by the hunter Actaeon while bathing. As punishment Diana transforms him into a stag, after which he is torn apart by his own hounds.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineDiana and Actaeon Cup. 1610. Paulus Willemsz. van Vianen. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
