Diana and Endymion

Diana, in a blue dress, is seated on a bank of clouds gazing at the sleeping Endymion, who lies on a pink cloth, surrounded by his dogs and horses. Cupid, flying between them, is about to shoot an arrow into Diana's heart. The picture was probably painted fairly late in Solimena's career since the composition, particularly the pose of Endymion, is close in reverse to that of the Dream of St Martin in the Certosa di S. Martino, Naples, which was probably painted shortly before 1733.