Erato - the genius of the arts

António Manuel da Fonseca portrays his second wife, elevating her to muse of Greek mythology. Erato, Zeus’s daughter, is identified by the name inscribed on her bracelet. Erato is associated with music, lyric poetry, but also with the fine arts. Her name means "lovable". The artists inspired by her would be worthy of appreciation and admiration.
In this portrait, the painter glorifies her with a laurel wreath, the poets’ attribute, and with a diadem with a glitter star, symbolizing the genius. Names of several painters and poets are inscribed in her cloak and in her hands she holds a pencil, the tool that represents the artistic creation, and a medallion with the effigies of the patrons of the arts, the Kings D. Maria II and D. Fernando