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Description: | This painting is one of a set of six (four of which are housed in Saffrom Walden Museum) produced by Giovanni Battista Cipriani (1727-1785) for the now destroyed Adam Library at Audley End (a detailed drawing of about 1781 by Placido Colombani, one of a set recording all the rooms refurbished by Adam at Audley End, shows its original appearance). These paintings which were executed in grisaille in imitation of antique stone reliefs were to be placed high on the walls above the pedimented bookcases. Their subjects compliment the idea of the library as a 'temple of learning' thus Religion, Science and the Arts and several triumphs of symbolic divinities are represented. These panels were the single most expensive items commissioned by Sir John Griffin Griffin, they cost £315 in 1771, double what he paid for three portraits by Benjamin West also in the library. It is therefore clear that they were conceived as 'fine art' as opposed to 'decorative art'. The present painting is described in the Audley End inventory of pictures of 1797 as follows: 'On the other side of the Chimney is represented Urania with the other Muses, asking protection of Minerva, this Represents, Arts, Sciences and Learning'. Minerva, the patroness of institutions of learning and the arts, is shown surrounded by the nine Muses: the goddesses of divine inspiration in poetry, song and the other liberal arts. The most directly appropriate choice of subject to the library. While this image clearly alludes to the creative arts, its presence serves to remind us that the study of more 'worldly' activities such as history, economics or religion are all closely related as civilized activities under the protection of the goddess Minerva. | Subjects: | mythology | Source: | Vads | Creator: | Artist: Cipriani, Giovanni Battista (Italian painter, draftsman, and designer, 1727-1785, active in England) Æ | Identifier: | http://www.vads.ac.uk/large.php?uid=8736... | Go to resource |
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