Portret van Pierre-Laurent Buirette de Belloy, gedragen door Minerva en een genie 1765

This 1765 etching by Claude-Antoine Littret de Montigny depicts a portrait of Pierre-Laurent Buirette de Belloy, a French playwright. The artwork shows Belloy surrounded by the figures of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and warfare, and a winged genius. The image is a symbolic representation of Belloy’s accomplishments, with Minerva and the genius representing his intellectual and artistic talents. This etching is a valuable document of the 18th-century artistic practice, showcasing the popularity of allegorical portraits. It is a small work, measuring only 184 mm in height and 115 mm in width, but its intricate details and symbolic elements make it a significant piece.