Jongeren maken muziek met op de achtergrond Minerva 1823 - 1873

Célestin Nanteuil made this print, Jongeren maken muziek met op de achtergrond Minerva, sometime in the 19th century. The image depicts youth making music under the watchful eye of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom. The print employs the visual codes and cultural references of its time to comment on art's social role. Minerva's presence suggests that music-making can lead to wisdom, virtue, and the development of reason. The young figures' elegant dress indicates a sophisticated social setting. Made in France, the artwork reflects the values of the French academy, which emphasized the didactic role of art, its capacity to elevate and ennoble. The idealized figures and classical references are typical of academic art, which sought to perpetuate traditional artistic standards. Art historians often turn to period reviews, artist biographies, and other archival sources to understand the values and debates surrounding this artistic style and this artwork. Art always reflects the values and assumptions of the society that produces it.