02 Works, The Art of War, Bernardo Strozzi's Allegorical Figure, Minerva, with footnotes

Bernardo Strozzi, (Italian, 1581?-1644)

Detail; Allegorical Figure, c. 1636

Oil on canvas

145.8 x 99.8 cm (57 3/8 x 39 5/16 in.)

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Bernardo Strozzi, (Italian, 1581?-1644)

Allegorical Figure, c. 1636

Oil on canvas

145.8 x 99.8 cm (57 3/8 x 39 5/16 in.)

The Cleveland Museum of Art

During the 1630s, Strozzi painted a number of female figures representing various intellectual and artistic pursuits, reflecting the appeal of such allegories among learned patrons in northern Italy. Recent scholarship has convincingly identified the subject of this painting as Minerva. The Roman goddess of war has put aside her armor for more contemplative pursuits; her upward gaze—as if seeking inspiration—recalls her other associations with wisdom, eloquence, and the arts. More on this painting

Minerva is the Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, law, victory, and the sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. Minerva is not a patron of violence such as Mars, but of strategic war. From the second century BC onward, the Romans equated her with the Greek goddess Athena. Minerva is one of the three Roman deities in the Capitoline Triad, along with Jupiter and Juno.

She was the virgin goddess of music, poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, and the crafts She is often depicted with her sacred creature, an owl, which symbolised her association with wisdom and knowledge as well as, less frequently, the snake and the olive tree. Minerva is commonly depicted as tall with an athletic and muscular build, as well as wearing armour and carrying a spear. As the most important Roman goddess, she is highly revered, honored, and respected. Marcus Terentius Varro considered her to be ideal and the plan for the universe personified. More on Minerva

The preparatory drawing for this painting is also in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. See below

Bernardo Strozzi, (Italian, 1581?-1644)

Allegorical Figure, c. 1636

Black chalk with red chalk

37.3 x 26.2 cm (14 11/16 x 10 5/16 in.)

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Strozzi drew this female figure in preparation for one of his major oil painting above

Bernardo Strozzi, named il Cappuccino and il Prete Genovese (c. 1581 – 2 August 1644) was an Italian Baroque painter and engraver. A canvas and fresco artist, his wide subject range included history, allegorical, genre and portrait paintings as well as still lifes. Born and initially mainly active in Genoa, he worked in Venice in the latter part of his career. His work exercised considerable influence on artistic developments in both cities. He is considered a principal founder of the Venetian Baroque style. His powerful art stands out by its rich and glowing colour and broad, energetic brushstrokes. More on Bernardo Strozzi

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