1600s Ladies as Minerva a Goddess of War

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

Women by Peruvian artist Albert Lynch 1851-1912

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) Women at Tea

Albert Lynch was born in Lima, Peru, but he sailed to Paris, where he studied at l'École des Beaux-Arts. There he worked under painters Jules Achille Noël, Gabriel Ferrier, & Henri Lehmann. He showed his artwork in the Salon of French artists which he won in 1890 & 1892, and at the World's Fair of 1900 where he received a gold medal. After illustrating books & magazines, he eventually returned to Peru, where he died in 1912.

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) Cover of the Ladies Home Journal August, 1910

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) Fresh from the Garden

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) A Young Woman

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) The Servant

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) Beauty

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) Young Woman in Straw Hat

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) The White Ribbon

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) Woman in a Large Hat

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) A Quiet Read

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) Suivez-moi

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) A Beautiful Woman

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) The Green Bonnett

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) Portrait of a Young Woman

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) A Young Beauty

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) Eternal Sunshine

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) Young Woman in Green Hat

Albert Lynch (Peruvian artist, 1851-1912) Woman in White Bonnet

1600s Ladies as Minerva Goddess of War

 

1640 Margaret Yolande of Savoy, Duchess of Parma as Minerva

Minerva (Athena in Greek) was one of the most important of the ancient Greek & Roman goddesses. She was originally a Goddess of War, hence her armor & spear. Her role later expanded to Goddess of War, Trade, Wisdom & the Arts. (Those duties including Trade & War surely reflect modern economic motives.)  She was fierce & brilliant. From 2C BC onwards, the Romans equated her with the Greek goddess Athena, Goddess of Music, Poetry, Medicine, Wisdom, Commerce, Weaving, Crafts, & Magic.

Christine Marie de France, Duchesse de Savoie (1606-1665) as Minerva with her son  Francesco Hyacinte

Artists in the 15-18C sometimes painted their clients as allegories or personifications, & often painters would put the faces of their patrons or sponsors on the bodies of the saints.  These came to be called donor portraits.  

1650 Anne Marie d'Orleans La Grande Mademoiselle as Minerva

Allegorical portraits remained popular; & as time passed, they expanded to show the sitter as a goddess, or muse, or nymph in a rustic or garden setting.  These allegories grew to include strong portraits of Minerva wearing idealized attire, nothing like the clothing worn by actual women of the period.  Dressing scantily or provocatively would have been frowned upon if a proper lady was sitting for a realistic portrait, but if she were posing as an ancient goddess or muse, a little skin was acceptable.

1650 Lady as Minerva,  by Charles Beaubrun

1650s Laura Mancini as Minerva

1660s Madame Lagley as Minerva, by Mignard 

 1660s Henriette Anne d'Orleans as Minerva

1670s Henriette Adelaide of Savoy, Electress of Bavaria in armor of Minerva

Women by Russian Victor Borisov-Musatov 1870-1905

 Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Tapestry 1901

Victor Elpidiforovich Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870 - 1905) was known for his unique Post-Impressionistic style which mixed symbolism, pure decorative style, and realism. Together with Mikhail Vrubel he is often referred to as the creator of Russian Symbolism style.

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) A Lady in a Blue Dress 1905

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Two Ladies A Study for Harmony 1899-1900

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) A Girl in the Sunlight Study 1897

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) A Spring Sun

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Woman with a Shawl

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) A Walk at Sunset 1903

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) A Lady in Blue 1902

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Autumn Mood 1899

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) A Lady

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Flowers in May 1894

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Self Portrait with Sister 1898

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Silence 1900

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Harmony 1899-1900

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) The Reservoir 1902

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) On the Terrace 1903

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905)

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Light at Sunset 1904

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Autumn Mood 1901

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Sketch for a Tapestry Panel Spring Tale 1904-5

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) In the Park. 1901-1903.

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Sketch for a Tapestry Panel Summer Melody 1904-5

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Portrait of a Lady. 1902.

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Sketch for a Tapestry Panel Autumn Evening 1904-5

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Young Girl on the Balcony. 1900. 

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Requiem 1905

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) Young Girl with a Necklace. Study. 1904                                                                                                                   

Victor Borisov-Musatov (Russian artist, 1870-1905) The Emerald Necklace 1903-4