Lavinia Fontana
This painting offers a unique portrayal of Minerva, who in Roman mythology was the goddess of wisdom, justice, law, victory, and the sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. Beyond these traditional roles, mythology also designates her as the protector of spinners, as implied by the exquisite garments she is in the process of donning. At her feet, one can discern a shield and armor, which, along with the owl perched on the balustrade amid olive branches and the cherub holding a helmet, constitute her customary iconographic attributes. The artwork was crafted in Rome, and the city's ambiance is conjured through the presence of St. Peter's dome in the background.
In the context of the first days of the year, I have one question for you: Have you already made your New Year's resolution to go to the gym? Just kidding, of course we know that your New Year's resolution is to read DailyArt every day! :D
P.S. If you like Lavinia Fontana (she was an artist in the Baroque period, which wasn't an easy profession for women to conduct then), you can check our Women Artists - 50 Postcard Set with 50 masterpieces created by women, available in our DailyArt Shop! :)
P.P.S. Painter of popes, noblewomen, and ... nudes, Lavinia Fontana was one of the most successful women artists in Europe. Read more about her story! And for more early modern art made by women, see the articles below.