The Diana of the Hunt Sculpture by Huntington

Table of Contents

Introduction
Diana of the Hunt by Anna Hyatt Huntington
Conclusion
Reference

Introduction

Statues are rather magnificent and indescribably mesmerizing works of art. While it may not seem that way at first, they can depict personality, portray beauty and specific concepts. In some cases, these works can represent qualities that contradict each other, however, in a way that makes the two features look rather harmonious when combined. The following text will review a statue called Diana of the Hunt by Anna Hyatt Huntington.

Diana of the Hunt by Anna Hyatt Huntington

Diana of the Hunt is a life-sized statue located in the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. It can be found in the east portico of the building. The work is approximately 5.125 inches in height and is made of bronze. The statue portrays the Roman goddess of the hunt, standing on an orb with one foot. Her left hand is raised high, with a bow in it (Huntington, 1960-1961). There is a dog jumping in front of the statues feet. The goddess is portrayed with a piece of clothing on her left hip, as it almost reaches her ankle.

The statue is inspired by a Roman goddess who represented women and the hunt. The latter is rather evident due to the bow in her hand and the hound by her side. Besides being a hunter on land, Diana is the goddess of the Moon as well. This is why her placement in the museum is, most likely intentional (Huntington, 1960-1961). It is assumed that the orb represents Earth, as her raised hand shoots her arrow towards the Moon.

From my perspective, the statue looks rather majestic, as it demonstrates the beauty of female anatomy in all its glory. The hound by her side looks rather delicate as well, which accentuates the elegance of the goddess. Since the deity inspired by her was a patron of women, it is very likely that Diana represents the ideal image of a woman both in terms of appearance and character.

As she balances on the orb, it portrays elegance and grace: Diana shooting an arrow is a visualization of strength. Finally, the goddess having a dog by her side represents companionship and teamwork. Female beauty is successfully portrayed in the statue as well, as Dianas personality is successfully demonstrated by her appearance. Her body is both delicate and strong; the pose accentuates the beauty of the goddess arms and legs.

Undeniably, the sculptors choice for inspiration is rather unusual; however, it is quite rational. This beautiful statue successfully combines both masculine and feminine qualities. It is important to mention that while this specific work does represent strength and discipline to some extent; it does not take away from Dianas womanhood and beauty. Both are combined in a harmonious way, without either of the two outweighing the other. Being a woman herself, there is no surprise that Anna Hyatt Huntington would not only successfully portray those qualities in the statue, but pay a respectful tribute to the Roman deity as well.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the statue Diana of the Hunt, located in the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, is a highly praised work of art. Its features, posture and additional elements are not accidental, as they represent what the titular Roman goddess portrayed. The statue successfully describes her personality and her beauty. Both the masculine and feminine qualities of the deity are shown in harmony with one another. With all of this taken into consideration, it is no surprise that the work remains highly praised to this day.