Minerva bezoekt vrouwen die spinnen en weven, 1717
Bernard Picart

The artwork captures the moment when Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, visits women engaged in spinning wool and weaving fabric. She holds a weaving pattern in her hand, pointing towards the women examining the fabric. Above the loom, a spider's web is depicted, symbolizing Arachne who was transformed into a spider by Minerva herself. The backdrop features a serene view of the sea. The scene is set within an ornately decorated cartouche, topped by Father Time, the personification of shipping (with a miniature sailboat), and Mercury.

Copyright: Public domain