Athena2.0103

Athena2.0103_Lely

Portrait of Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland, by Sir Peter Lely, depicted in classical attire holding a staff

Peter Lely painted a series of ten female portraits for King Charles II, the sitters being aristocratic women with some bearing on the crown. All the paintings in the series present the subjects in mythological garb. Here Barbara Villiers, 1st Duchess of Cleveland, appears as Minerva, goddess of wisdom and clever crafts. She is dressed in particular in the peaceful attire of successful defense, much as Athena Parthenos, but with silks and other dress that pertain to the period and the attitude Charles' own court.

Some irony may be attached to the detail that Barbara Palmer was regarded as perhaps the most notirious of Charles' many mistresses. Depicting a woman of questionable status as the virginal Minerva took some courage. John Evelyn called Barbara Villiers the "curse of the nation." Five of her six children were acknowledged by Charles as his own offspring and elevated to various titled positions.

But, she was famous for her beauty, particularly the color of her eyes. This alone might have led to the likeness of her to Minerva, the goddess of the flashing eyes.