Scene narrated by ovid (metamorphoses, book ii) that shows the deception of the god jupiter to the nymph callisto. A nymph of great beauty and a member of diana's retinue, goddess of the hunt, she was seduced by jupiter who took diana's features. Pregnant, the nymph will try to hide her state from the goddess who, being a virgin, forced her companions to remain celibate. Jupiter turned his lover into a bear to free her from punishment but, discovering the deception, diana shot her down with arrows. Upon her death, callisto was taken to heaven by jupiter, who placed her among the constellations, receiving the name ursa major. Pierre represents the moment of initial deception, when callisto abandons herself in the arms of jupiter disguised as diana. To distinguish them, the goddess appears wearing her symbol, the crescent. Next to them plays a putti that rests on the quiver of arrows of the goddess of the hunt. This work is a companion to jupiter and antiope (p03218). Object Type: painting. Genre: mythological painting. Date: between 1745 and 1749. Dimensions: height: 114 cm (44.8 in); width: 197 cm (77.5 in). Medium: oil on canvas. Depicted People: Diana, Jupiter. Collection: Museo del Prado. Diana y Calisto, por Jean-Baptiste Marie Pierre
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