Born in the artist’s family, Lavinia Fontana received painting lessons from her father Prospero. In her works, she developed the traditions of the Bologna academic school inherited from him and often appealed to the characters of ancient mythology. This picture shows Minerva, identified by the Romans with Athena Pallada.
The goddess of wisdom and the patroness of soldiers is dressed in her outfit. On the floor lie her armor – helmet, shield, cuirass, at the entrance to the balcony there is a spear. The whiteness of the exquisite body of the heroine is highlighted by rich interior colors, in which red and golden tones prevail. The solemnity reigning in the canvas due to the presence of ammunition, magnificent drapery and determination, with which Minerva dresses in clothes, is combined with the tenderness of her appearance. Cupid, raising the helmet of the goddess, brings into the canvas an easy, playful jet, characteristic of the painting of academics.
Dressing Minerva – Lavinia Fontana 
Aderezo Minerva – Lavinia Fontana 
Minerva, the winner of Ignorance by Bartholomeus Spranger 
Minerva and the genius of the arts by Mikhail Kozlovsky 
Minerva y el genio del arte – Mikhail Kozlovsky 
Minerva, ganadora de la ignorancia – Bartholomeus Spranger 
Martyrdom of St. Peter the Martyr by Domenichino 
Diana after bathing by Francois Boucher