History of Diana Tapestry

This 17th-century Brussels tapestry belongs to the celebrated History of Diana series, a mythological cycle widely produced by leading Flemish workshops for elite patrons. The scene depicts an intimate moment of encounter set within a lush verdure landscape, traditionally identified as Diana, goddess of the hunt, approached by a companion often associated with the myth of Diana and Endymion. Diana is recognizable by her short  hunting robe, quiver, and poised movement, while the surrounding forest of dense foliage and distant hills reflects the period’s fascination with nature as a place of beauty, calm, and quiet tension. The richly detailed floral and foliate border, filled with scrolling leaves, fruit, and ribbons, is characteristic of high- quality Brussels production and frames the scene like a painted tableau. Tapestries from the History of Diana series were prized for their classical subject matter and decorative appeal, commissioned to demonstrate cultural sophistication and remain among the most collectible mythological Brussels panels on the market today.