# Selene and Endymion

- By: Gerard de Lairesse (Liège, 1641–1711)
- Date: c. 1680
- Medium: canvas, oil paint (paint)
- Classification: painting
- Dimensions: height 177 cm x width 118.5 cm
- Museum: [Rijksmuseum](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/SK-A-4210--5dffe6c3c371d7cbef05bda073ed1c13)
- Rights: [Public Domain Mark](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)
- Picture: https://iiif.micr.io/gNMdu/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Teens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

The chaste goddess of the moon, Selene (or Diana), is in love with the shepherd Endymion. Only at night when he is asleep does she quietly creep down to him, accompanied by Cupid, whose torch symbolizes burning love. This painting was (appropriately) hung in Mary Stuart’s bedchamber in Soestdijk Palace, for Lairesse felt that the function and decoration of a room should correspond.