Diana with Orion

About this artwork.

Diana with Orion is a late nineteenth-century scene and has been incorporated as a fixed element in a small fireplace with carvings in Groninger Louis XIV style. This work was painted by painter Johannes Hinderikus Egenberger (1822 - 1897). He donated the work in 1886 for the meeting room of the mayor and aldermen. Depicted a seated man with bow and quiver, partly clad in red cloak, female figure in blue robe bending affectionately over him; next to the man a lying dog and above two angels.

In the beginning, Egenberger was mainly active as a history painter and painted four professor portraits for the University of Groningen. In 1857 Egenberger was appointed headteacher-director of the Minerva Academy in Groningen. As a painter he had a great influence on painting in Groningen and is also known as the grandfather of the art society De Ploeg.

Egenberger exhibited regularly in 1843, 1862 and between 1871 and 1892 at Pictura (art society in Groningen), where he also held board positions. In 1894 he was made an honorary member. Until the mid-1970s, Egenberger mainly painted history paintings, then more portraits and scenes from everyday life. His style developed from academic-romantic, with bright colors and strong light-dark contrasts, to a painting style related to the Hague School, with a more sober color scheme.

The J.H. Eggenbergerstreet in Hoogkerk is named after him.

Facts & Figures.

• Artist(s)
  Johannes Egenberger

• Year of creation
  1886

• Collection
  Town Hall Collection

• Technic
  Oil paint on wood