Minerva Instructing Cherubs
Continental School: 18th Century (or possibly 19th Century)
Collector’s or artist’s monogram stamp
in Masonic logo, lower right: J.B.
Pencil on paper
10 x 10.5 inches, overall
Sold, please inquire as to the availability of similar items.
Minerva Instructing Cherubs
Continental School: 18th Century
Continental School: 18th Century
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Preparatory sketch for a painting or mural of the Roman goddess Minerva instructing three cherubs on spear throwing and archery in a wooded clearing. The goddess is dressed in her characteristic drapery over a coat of mail, wearing a helmet and holding a shield. As one cherub stands poised to throw a spear, she points to the target, a painting of an eagle. As a preparatory sketch, there is a faint grid drawn by the artist for enlarging the work to a larger format. A collector’s or artist’s monogram stamped lower right incorporates the Masonic set square and compass symbol.
Minerva was the goddess of wisdom and patroness of the arts and trades, and according to Roman mythology, sprung with a tremendous battle cry, fully armed from the brain of Jupiter. She was subsequently identified with the Greek goddess Athena by the Romans.
Reference:
Room, Adrian, ed. Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.15th ed. New York: Harper Collins, 1998. p. 702.