a web museum

 

"Theologia", Queen of All Learning (detail)

Henry Holiday, London, England

1893

In the centre is the apparently invented figure of "Theologia", undiscoverable anywhere else on the Internet!

As a supposedly mythical (but actually contrived) Queen of all Learning, she straddles the space between the Virgin Mary (who would necessarily be depicted in blue garments); and the Classical goddesses of Wisdom (who would not be wearing a Christian halo; and whom the Methodist sponsors must have wished to invoke.

Surrounding Theologia is a circle of eleven feminine figures, representing classical learning and Christian virtues. The outer ring is a decorative border of putti (cherubs), with a water motif.