Minerva and the Arms of François Sublet de Noyers Painted by the Genius of Painting 1630 - 1676

Abraham Bosse made this engraving called, *Minerva and the Arms of François Sublet de Noyers Painted by the Genius of Painting*, in France in the 17th century. This print, dedicated to François Sublet de Noyers, Superintendent of Buildings for Louis XIII, depicts Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, overseeing the creation of Sublet de Noyer’s armorial bearings. Representations of nobility were vitally important in solidifying social standing, so the images and symbols in these armorial bearings would have had an immediate impact on contemporaries. Here, the artist uses classical imagery to celebrate the achievements of a contemporary figure. To understand this print more fully, we need to study not only the iconography but also the social conventions around nobility and representation in 17th century France. We might ask: How did the Royal Academy shape artistic production during this period? And how did the imagery in this print function within the social and political landscape of its time?