Minerva
Minerva

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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At the eastern end of the Gallery, overlooking the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, is a statue of Minerva, the goddess of wisdom. It was originally designed by the British neoclassical sculptor, John Flaxman, as a seated figure of Britannia, brandishing a spear and shield, to appear on Marble Arch, designed as a ceremonial entranceway by John Nash. Flaxman was chosen to provide the commemorative sculptural decoration, but after his death in 1826 this work was divided between his former pupil Edward Hodges Baily, Charles Rossi and Richard Westmacott. Work started in 1827 but was halted after the death of George IV and then scaled back after 1831, when the new king, William IV, in a cost-cutting exercise, got rid of its sculptural elements.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

Minerva

Date

worked on twice, by 1830 & altered about 1834

Medium

Portland stone

Accession number

H216

Acquisition method

commissioned by the Office of Works for the Marble Arch, and installed on the gallery by 1838

Work type

Sculpture

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The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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