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An allegorical panel depicting the assembly of the gods on Mount Olympus. Apollo is personified as the all-seeing, all-knowing sun god riding in his chariot. As the guardian of man he stands for the rational, civilised side of man's nature. Cast in shadow is Apollo's twin sister, the moon goddess Diana, representing chastity and acting as the guardian of women. Below, a rainbow is positioned diagonally across the canvas with an unclothed female figure reclining. This is Iris who descended to earth as a messenger of the gods. In a horizontal line below her are figures who represent the Muses, Apollo's companions and goddesses of creative inspiration in the arts. Below, a group is positioned around the figure of Jupiter, supreme ruler of the gods and mortals, and chief of the 12 Olympians.
This shows him representing the god of many loves who deceives mortal and divine women, thus enforcing the main message of the painting. His daughter Minerva is shown springing fully armed from his head. She wears a breastplate and holds a shield, and stands for wisdom, chastity and the defence of just causes. Beneath Jupiter, cast in shadow, is Juno, his betrayed wife, and she wears her attribute of a crown and magic girdle borrowed from Venus to make her appear more desirable. Above Juno is the semi-naked form of the reclining Venus, the goddess of love and fertility, with her son Cupid, the god of love, directly above. To the right of Minerva is Mercury, Jupiter's son and winged messenger.
Mercury also personified eloquence and reason, which echoes ideals of learning and reinforces the idea – also established by the presence there of Apollo – that the right side of the painting stands for man's rational side, while the left represents his darker aspects. Thus there are themes running through the painting which can be seen as an allegorical manifestation of the conflict between the passions, with chastity, wisdom and goodness overcoming lust.
Title
An Allegory of Apollo and Minerva as Wisdom and the Arts
Date
late 17th C–early 18th C
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 183 x W 86.5 cm
Accession number
BHC0992
Acquisition method
National Maritime Museum (Greenwich Hospital Collection)
Work type
Painting