This portrait depicting a girl in a classically inspired manner is a fine example. The artist has depicted their subject wearing an elaborate feather headdress resembling a Roman galea, a badge with the mask of Minerva on her bodice, and a metallic waistband. These garments draw from traditional mythology which by the time this portrait was painted was well known. All educated individuals of the period were familiar with Latin and Greek poetry and the mythological world and in 18th century France it was fashionable for aristocratic women to have their likenesses made in the guise of mythological characters. Many artist’s specialised in these fanciful allegorical portraits. This young lady has been depicted as Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, protector of peace, and patroness of the arts and sciences – and has thereby elevated her to the status of a goddess.The expensive fabrics, the large swag curtain, and the whiteness of the skin are distinctive marks of the sitter’s soc...