Minerva with the Muses on Mount Helikon

The painting shows a scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses: Minerva, clad in armor, visits Mount Helicon to admire a new spring - here in the form of a well - which was created when the winged horse Pegasus aimed his hoof at a rock, striking it with such force that the spring burst from the spot. The nine Muses tune their instruments for an upcoming singing competition with the Pierids, daughters of Pieros, King of Macedonia - which theMuses will win.