Around 1888 Rodin met Mrs Mariana Russell wife of the Australian painter John P. Russell who lived in the Château de l'Anglais at Belle Ile. She was of Italian origin and Rodin was seduced by her perfect classical features. He used her as a model in several sculptures representing classical figures such as Minerva wearing a helmet (Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery), Pallas with the Partenon (Musée Rodin, Paris) and Ceres (Boston, Museum of Fine Arts).