Diana and Callisto

Engraved by BERTELEZI (1744-1831)

After Antoine BOREL (1743-circa 1810)

 France

18th century

Etching on laid paper

Deposit from the Museum of Franco-American cooperation, château of Blérancourt, 1977

Inv. DSa50

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The nymph Callisto was the favorite maiden of Diana, goddess of war, who demanded complete chastity from her ladies. One day, Zeus fell in love with Callisto and decided to transform as Artemis to approach her. He managed to seduce her and she got pregnant. Ashamed, she tried to hide her state the best she could but while bathing Artemis found out and banned her. The myth unfolds with her becoming  the Ursa star and then a constellation. These two episodes are depicted on this engraving titled The Birth of the Ursa Major held in our collections (Inv. SN8).

This engraving tells the story from the beginning, as Diana and Callisto are both naked in a lake next to a waterfall. Their hunting gear is laid against a tree underneath which they are settled. One can distinguish a quiver filled with arrows, a spear and a horn. Diana is shown from the back wearing her emblematic tiara adorned with a crescent moon, whereas Callisto is facing us holding a bow. She has just shot a deadly arrow at a bird that a dog is bringing back, foreshadowing her future status as a prey.