Diana Nemorensis

‘Diana Nemorensis’ by Max Nonnenbruch (1857-1922).

The painting – which depicts the Goddess Diana of the Woods beside Lake Nemi – is signed by the artist and presented in its original antique gold leaf neoclassical frame.

The sacred temple of Diana Nemorensis stood just outside Rome in dense woodland surrounding Lake Nemi. Famous for its great beauty the lake lies in an ancient volcanic crater known as ‘Diana’s Mirror’. The emperor Caligula was a supporter of the Cult of Diana Nemorensis and had his two famous Nemi ships (two floating palaces) built on the lake.

Max Nonnenbruch studied in the academies of Düsseldorf and Munich before enrolling at the Académie Julian in Paris. Nonnenbruch’s ethereal compositions contain many elements of the European Symbolist movement but as his career and technique developed his work became more closely allied to the elegant Greco-Roman school of the great English Olympian painters Lord Leighton and Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema; his figure painting in particular being every bit the equal of their contemporary John William Godward. The artist exhibited many times in Munich and Berlin as well as at the Galerie Heinemann in Nice. In 1892 he played an important role at the International Art Exhibition at the Munich Glaspalast.

Academy Fine Paintings only offers artwork for sale in the finest condition it can be for its age, having been professionally cleaned, conserved, and re-varnished. Clients should also note that tracked and signed for international shipping is complimentary.

Dimensions: (framed) 108cm x 78cm (42½” x 30½”)

Dimensions: (canvas only) 90cm x 60cm (35½” x 23½”)

Medium: Oil on canvas.

Provenance: Private French collection.

Presentation: Fine quality gold metal leaf frame.

Condition: Very good. Professionally cleaned, restored, and re-varnished. Ready to hang.