Apollo and Diana

On loan from The Crown Estate

Early in his career, inspired by his time in Italy, Watts sought to paint large-scale frescos on the walls of public and private buildings in Britain. This fragment was originally part of a series commissioned by Lady Virginia Somers for the drawing room of 7 Carlton House Terrace, London.

Originally located over the fireplace, this painting depicts Diana, the Roman goddess of the moon and the hunt, alongside her twin Apollo, god of the sun. The snake under Apollo’s foot represents his enemy, Python.