Athena1.0076a

Peter Paul Rubens, "The Education of Marie de' Medici," painting part of "Life of Marie de' Medici" cycle, 1622 - 25 now in Louvre, Paris, inv. 1771.

Minerva teaches the adolescent Marie how to write and read, as Apollo (Orpheus?) teaches music, Mercury provides interpretive instruction, and the Graces crown the growing girl.

This painting is part of an elaborate biographical series by Rubens, commissioned to narrate in 24 frames the remarkable career of Marie de' Medici. Minerva appears in roughly one dozen different large frames, always supporting the princess and queen throughout her remarkable career.

image at right accessed from the Artstor Digital Library and is used here in agreement with Artstor licensing guidelines.