Venus, Juno and Minerva
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet (cut within platemark): 21 x 15.4 cm (8 1/4 x 6 1/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
2000.88.1
Art Historical Context
Behold *Venus, Juno, and Minerva* (1587), an exquisite engraving by Adriaen Colla after a design by Jan van deret (Giovanni Strad). This intimate print, measuring just 21 x 15.4 cm on laid paper, the classical myth of the Judgment of Paris, where the goddesses vie for a golden apple as the fairest, a pivotal tale from Ovid's *Metamorphoses* that sparked the Trojan War. Collaert, a Flemish engraver, faithfully translates Stradano's Mannerist vision—known for its elegant, elongated figures and dynamic compositions—into intricate lines that shimmer with life. Engravings like this were revolution...