Head of Minerva

The present work is a prepatory study for the mosaic Minerva, 1897, in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. and directly relates to the full length study of the same title in the collection of The J.B. Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Kentucky. "Initially, Vedder thought of emphasizing the traditional warlike attributes of Minerva as Pallas Athena, not an especially appropriate theme for a library. His final design, however, incorporates the equally traditional associations of Minerva as patroness and protector of learning, art, and industry...Vedder found the appropriate attributes of Minerva in several familiar ancient sculptures, such as the Athena Farnese with the Ionic chiton and clearly defined aegis bordered with gorgoneion, or the Athena Giustiniani, which supplied Vedder with a model for the helmet with rams' heads and sphinx." (J.C. Taylor et. al., Perceptions and Evocations: The Art of Elihu Vedder, Washington, D.C., 1979, p. 226)