Elizabeth Washington, Lady Ferrers (c.1655-1693), as Minerva

after John Michael Wright (London 1617 - London 1694). Oil painting on canvas, Elizabeth Washington, Lady Ferrers (c.1655-1693), as Minerva, after John Michael Wright (London 1617 - London 1694), circa 1671. A three-quarter-length portrait of a young woman, turned slightly to the right, gazing at the spectator, holding a spear in her right hand and resting her left hand on a shield on which is the head of the Medusa, wearing fancy dress as Pallas Athene, Minerva, consisting of a white dress with gold embroided bodice, blue and white plumed helmet and blue cloak. A blue drape is across the bottom of the picture at left, she also wears jewelled bracelets on her white sleeves. Behind, to the right is a fountain with grotesque masks in front of a pink sky, a large rocky formation is behind her on the left. First wife of Sir Robert Shirley, later Lord Ferrers, to whom she bore seventeen children. Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire