Brown Wood Owl (Strix leptogrammica)

F. N. Souza recreates in this painting the Greek legend of goddess Artemis and Actaeon, the latter getting devoured by his own hounds due to a strange turn of events. This, in fact, is the iconic motif by which Actaeon is recognised, both in ancient art, Renaissance and post-Renaissance depictions. Souza’s Artemis, who looks on unemotionally, watching the hunter being attacked, is inspired by the sculptural traditions of India, found in temples and other archaeological sites, which fascinated this iconoclastic artist immensely.