1670 Johann Hulsmann (1600-1660) Liselotte of the Palantinate as Minerva
Early artists painted their contemporaries somewhat like allegories, & often painters would put the faces of their patrons or sponsors on the bodies of the saints. These came to be called donor portraits. Allegorical portraits remained popular; and as time passed, they expanded to show the sitter as a Greek goddess, or muse, or nymph in in a rustic setting.
These allegories grew to include strong portraits of Minerva wearing idealized attire, nothing like the clothing worn by real women of the period. Dressing scantily or provocatively would have been frowned upon if a proper lady was sitting for a portrait in contemporary clothing, but if she were posing as an ancient goddess or muse, a little skin was perfectly acceptable.
1662 Peter Lely (English artist, 1618-1680) Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland as Goddess Minerva
Minerva was the Roman goddess of wisdom & sponsor of arts, trade, & war. She was born of Jupiter with weapons. She was fierce, and she was brilliant. From the 2nd century BC onwards, the Romans equated her with the Greek goddess Athena. She was the virgin goddess of music, poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts, & magic.
1664 Simon Renard de Saint-André (French artist, 1613–1677) Anne of Austria with Queen Marie Therese as Goddess Minerva
1663 Pieter Nason (Dutch artist, c 1612-1688-90) Portrait of a woman in Minerva's dress Christina of Sweden as Bradamante
1670 Unknown artist. Portrait of Henriette Adelaide of Savoy (Electress of Bavaria) in armor as Goddess Minerva
1670-90 Pierre Mignard (1612–1695) Portrait of Olympia Mancini (1638-1708), comtess of Soissons depicted as Athena or Goddess Minerva
1670s Pierre Mignard (1612–1695) Portrait of Mue Mertain as Minerva
1670s Style of John Michael Wright (British artist, 1617-1694) Elizabeth Washington (c.1655–1693), Lady Ferrers, as Minerva
1675 Henri Gascard (French artist, c 1635-1701) Frances Teresa Stewart, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox (1647-1702) as Goddess Minerva
1679 Joseph Wright (English artist) Frances Teresa Stewart, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox (1647-1702) as Minerva
1690s Jan Frans van Douven (Dutch artist, 1656-1727) Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici (1667–1743)
1600s Simon Vouet (French artist, 1590-1649) Anna of Austria as Minerva with Minerva's symbol of the owl at her feet.
1620s Paulus Moreelse (Dutch artist, 1571-1638) Unidentified Lady as Minerva
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