Artwork
Story of Minerva - Minerva Watering her Horses into the Sea
Story of Minerva - Minerva Watering her Horses into the Sea is an oil painting by the French Classical Baroque artist René-Antoine Houasse. It dates from 1694 and is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the mythological scene of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, gently pouring water upon her horses as they drink from the sea.
The painting depicts the mythological scene of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, gently pouring water upon her horses as they drink from the sea. This act symbolizes her nurturing authority and the divine power that sustains both equine strength and heroic endeavor. The composition combines a helmet, chariot, and billowing clouds to reinforce Minerva's role as a warrior‑protector and celestial strategist.
Rendered in oil on canvas, the work was commissioned by Louis XIV in 1706 for the billiard room of the Grand Trianon at Versailles, where it formed part of a decorative ensemble celebrating mythic triumphs.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, a medium and support specified in the source documentation. According to the cited records, the composition is classified as a mythological painting and depicts Minerva in the act of watering her horses within a sea setting, accompanied by symbolic elements such as a helmet, chariot, and cloud. The formal treatment aligns with French Baroque conventions of the late 17th century, reflecting the artist’s stylistic engagement with mythological narrative and dynamic movement.
The condition of the work is noted as part of the royal collection at the Palace of Versailles, where it remains on display.
These attributes contribute to its stylistic characterization as a grand decorative composition intended for a ceremonial interior, combining narrative clarity with ornamental sophistication.
History & Provenance
The painting was commissioned by Louis XIV in 1688 for the billiard room of the Grand Trianon at Versailles. It was created by René-Antoine Houasse in 1688 as an oil on canvas work measuring 146.5 cm by 107.8 cm. The artwork later entered the collection of the Palace of Versailles, where it remains today. Its provenance includes inclusion in the Joconde database under inventory numbers MV 7270 and INV 5380, reflecting its status as a state-managed French cultural property.
The painting is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles (musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon), where it carries the inventory numbers MV 7270, INV 5380, and B 1533.
It was commissioned by Louis XIV in 1706 for the billiard room at the Grand Trianon in Versailles.
Overview
Story of Minerva - Minerva Watering her Horses into the Sea is an oil painting created by René-Antoine Houasse in 1694. It is part of a series illustrating myths surrounding Athena/Minerva, the goddess of wisdom.
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Artist & collection
Artist
René-Antoine Houasse (c. 1645–1710) was a decorative French painter. He was a pupil of Charles Le Brun, under whose direction he worked at the Manufacture des Gobelins, and with whom he worked on the decoration of the…
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