Minerva

About this artwork.

On 27 June 1909, the Academy building was inaugurated again after the previous building burned down completely in 1906. The building was built in the style of the Northern Dutch Renaissance at the beginning of the seventeenth century. With this, the clients referred to the period in which the university was founded. The sculptor Petrus Ackermans designed five allegorical sculptures.
 
Minerva stands in full armour on top of the Academy building; helmet on the head and spear and coat of arms in hand. She is dressed in a classical robe that falls in folds around her body and accentuates the female forms. Scientia and Historia represent science and history respectively. Prudentia stands for wise policy and Mathematica for mathematics.

The sandstone sculptures, each around 175 centimetres in height, are placed in rather shallow niches crowned by a semi-circular shell shape. Despite the limited space, the artist has succeeded in making the sculptures appear very spatial. He achieved this by, among other things, cutting the folds in the robes deep. In addition, for each sculpture he has had certain parts protruding beyond the alcove. Thus the spear of Minerva is a striking element and the raised right arm of Scientia extends out far in front of the cavity.

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Petrus Ackermans

• District
  Centrum

• Year of creation
  1909

• Art type
  Art in / on a building

• Material
  Sandstone

• Dimensions
  h 1,75 m