Pallas 1680 - 1741

"Pallas," a 17th-century etching by Giovanni Girolamo Frezza, depicts the Greek goddess Athena, often referred to as Pallas Athena, in a seated pose, holding a spear and a shield. The detailed rendering of Athena's armor and her majestic throne highlights her powerful presence, emphasizing her role as a protector of wisdom and warfare. The artwork's inscription indicates it was created after a Roman sculpture, underscoring the enduring influence of classical art on Frezza's work. The etching, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a fine example of 18th-century Italian art, demonstrating the artist's mastery of the medium.