The Princess of Hesse-Homburg as Minerva at The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg

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Pajou unveiled this exquisite marble relief at the Salon of 1761, presenting an enigmatic theme: Princess of Hesse-Homburg as Minerva dedicating the Cordon of the Order of St Catherine to the Altar of Immortality. Though the subject may be obscure, Pajou skillfully navigates the fine line between whimsy and fastidiousness, producing a masterpiece that defies ridicule or fussiness. The execution is remarkably delicate, showcasing precise chiseling of the intricately patterned helmet and the flowing folds of Grecian-style drapery draped elegantly around the shoulders. While the bas-relief beneath tells a story rooted in history, the central portion is crafted with deliberate serenity, striving for harmony of line, a sense of measured interval, and unadulterated purity of form.