Who painted Diana and Callisto?

Diana and Callisto was painted by Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo in 1650.

Where can I see Diana and Callisto?

Diana and Callisto is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is Diana and Callisto?

Diana and Callisto is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Artwork

Diana and Callisto

Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo , 1650

Diana and Callisto is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Overview

Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo, a Spanish painter active in the mid‑17th century and a disciple of Diego Velázquez, produced the oil painting *Diana and Callisto* around 1650. Executed in the early Italian Baroque idiom, the work now belongs to the collection of the Museo del Prado.

Subject & Meaning

The composition portrays a moment from classical mythology in which the goddess Diana is surrounded by a group of women, some nude and others draped in translucent garments. The gathering suggests the narrative of Callisto’s encounter with the huntress, a theme often used to explore themes of chastity, transformation, and divine retribution.

Technique & Style

Mazo employs a muted palette of browns and greens, allowing the chiaroscuro of light and shadow to model the figures and landscape. Visible brushwork creates a textured surface, while the contrast between illuminated bodies and darker surroundings enhances the sense of volume and spatial depth characteristic of Baroque painting.

History & Provenance

Since its creation, the canvas has remained in Spain and is presently housed in the Museo del Prado, where it is displayed among other works of Spanish Baroque art, reflecting the museum’s commitment to preserving the legacy of Velázquez’s circle.

Artist & collection

Artist

Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo

Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo (c.1612 – February 10, 1667) was a Spanish Baroque portrait and landscape painter, the most distinguished of the followers of his father-in-law Velázquez, whose style he imitated more closely than did any…