Women Bowhunting in Paintings

Okay, this is a pretty esoteric topic. But sometimes it is interesting what comes up in a Google search.

The following is 3 paintings by two different French painters who apparently enjoyed painting female bowhunters - sometimes with a dog companion. Thematically the goal was to portray the woman as "Diana, Goddess of the Hunt".

Historically such paintings were often sent as gifts to potential male suitors, a 17th century version of "Plenty of Fish" and other relationship personals in an effort to attract suitable male companions. The paintings would often depict women or men doing their favourite activities.

Sending paintings like the ones below showed that the women below considered themselves outdoorsy, enjoys hunting, but also aristocratic and wealthy. A discreet amount of female flesh and a hint of bosom also suggested that they were virgins and yet sexually available.

Louise de La Vallière wanted to convey she was a dog lover.

Happy and a bit of a free spirit, very outdoorsy.

Same artist as above, but more modest and serious.

After meeting the women many men no doubt thought: "Wow. You don't look anything like your painting did, but hey, it was just a painting..."

Not all such paintings were done to attract male suitors. Some may have simply been made to impress the viewer as to a person's supposed skill as a huntress.

My how times have changed. Now when women have such photos taken they usually have mud smeared on their face as camouflage.