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Minerva Holding a Shield and Branch

Jacopo Palma il Giovane

1501

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Mythology

Dominant colour

Minerva Holding a Shield and Branch is a 1501 ink by Jacopo Palma il Giovane, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacopo Palma il Giovane
When & what style?: 1501 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a woman holding a shield in one hand and a branch in the other. Her hair is loose, and she looks focused. The lines are quick and rough, with some shading to show folds in her clothes. The artist used a mix of ink and light washes, adding white highlights here and there. The paper has a grainy texture, and the drawing feels like a quick study rather than a finished piece. Next, check out the technique: gouache to see how artists use it.