Minerva Protects Pax from Mars
1629 National Gallery
About this artwork
This large-scale oil on canvas masterpiece depicts the allegory of peace protecting abundance from war. Rubens painted this work during his diplomatic mission to London, aiming to persuade King Charles I of England to seek peace with Spain.
Did you know?
Rubens was a rare example of a successful artist who was also a high-level diplomat. He presented this painting to King Charles I as a visual argument for the benefits of peace, specifically as a way to encourage ending the Anglo-Spanish War. It remains one of the most sophisticated examples of art used as a political tool in the seventeenth century.
On your wall. Unlock the 4K download and keep this piece in your Vault — forever.
Know the artwork. Knowing its title and artist turns a beautiful image into a story worth sharing — with a museum label:
Minerva Protects Pax from Mars
Peter Paul Rubens, 1629
