Minerva

Art Historical Context

Behold *Minerva* (ca. 1605), a exquisite painted enamel on copper by Jean Limosin a master of the Limoges enamel tradition. This small yet striking plaque (24.4 x 19.1 cm) captures the Roman goddess of wisdom, likely in a bust portrait adorned with her iconic attributes: a helmeted head and the watchful owl, symbols of intellect and vigilance. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Robert Lehman Collection, exemplifies the refined artistry of early 17th-century France. Limoges enamels, like this partly gilt piece, were prized for their jewel-like brilliance and durability. Artists fired t...