Apollo and Diana

Apollo was one of the twelve gods of Olympus, and the embodiment of the classical Greek spirit, representing the rational and civilized side of man's nature. He was the son of Zeus and Leto, and twin brother of Diana. Later he became identified with the sun-god Helios who drove his chariot daily across the sky. Apollo's many attributes indicate the wide variety of his patronage and functions. In Drer's engraving he is seen drawing the bow, as the patron of archery, and he wears a crown of laurels, symbolising his achievements in the arts. He is often illustrated with a lyre in his role of patron of poetry, music and god of the Muses. As sun-god, he also drives a four-horse chariot, and a snake alludes to his victory over Python.

Diana came to be identified with Luna, the moon-goddess. She shared the heavens with her brother Apollo, beginning her journey in the evening just as he finished his. Drer portrays her as Diana the huntress, her hand resting on the head of a stag.

Apollo's stance in the print derives from the Apollo Belvedere, and Drer boldly turns the figure to one side, emphasizing the taut muscles of the figure's arms and back. Panofsky describes the print as 'dramatising the contrast between masculine vigour in action and feminine loveliness in repose'.