Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) - Diana and Actaeon - RCIN 405077 - Royal Collection

Diana and Actaeon 

Public domain photograph of 18th-century painting, classic mythology, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

The story of Diana and Actaeon is a classical myth from ancient Greece. Actaeon was a hunter who stumbled upon the goddess Diana while she was bathing in a forest pool. Outraged by his intrusion, Diana splashed water on him and, as punishment, turned him into a stag. Actaeon's own hunting dogs, recognizing their master, chased and killed him. This story is often interpreted as a cautionary tale about the consequences of hubris or arrogance, as well as a celebration of the power and majesty of the goddess Diana.