1 July - 1 August 2010
Titian’s stunning painting Diana and Actaeon will be on display in Kelvingrove throughout July. This magnificent work was purchased jointly by the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery, London, in 2009.
The painting is inspired by a story from the famous Metamorphoses series by ancient Roman poet Ovid. We see the goddess Diana being surprised by the intrusion of Actaeon, a hunter, as she is bathing in a secluded glade with her nymphs.
Diana and Actaeon, together with a companion piece which also depicts Diana, was made for King Philip II of Spain. This significant work was produced towards the end of Titian’s working life, in contrast to Kelvingrove's own Titian painting Christ and the Adulteress, produced when he was just beginning his career.
This generous loan provides an ideal and rare opportunity for visitors to view these two very different works in the same venue.
Acknowledgements
Titian (Tiziano Vecellio), Diana and Actaeon, purchased jointly by the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery, London, with contributions from The Scottish Government, the National Heritage Memorial Fund, The
Monument Trust, The Art Fund (with a contribution from the Wolfson Foundation) and through public appeal, 2009.