Minerva vliegend 1694 - 1737

Pieter van den Berge made this print of Minerva flying in the Netherlands around 1700. Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, frequently appeared in early modern art as a symbol of erudition and reason. Here, she brandishes a spear and shield as she flies. This representation reflects the cultural and political context of the Dutch Republic, a major European power at the time, which would have used symbols of classical antiquity to legitimize its military and intellectual achievements. The Rijksmuseum, where this print is housed, began as a collection of artifacts intended to represent Dutch national identity. Prints like this one would have helped to shape that identity, linking it to the cultural legacies of Greece and Rome. Historians use these kinds of prints to better understand the visual culture and political ideologies of the past. By researching the symbolism, artistic techniques, and social circulation of such images, we can better appreciate how art contributes to the construction of cultural and institutional memory.