Hebe, the daughter of Zeus and his fiery wife Hera, was the Greek goddess of youth and cupbearer to the gods. During the eighteenth century, till well into the nineteenth century, it was popular for young women (and a few not so young ones, like the middle aged Duchesse de Chaulnes), to have their portraits painted as Hebe. Even Marie Antoinette was immortalized as Hebe, clutching a chalice in her hand, while Zeus’ eagle, whom he used to send personal messages, stands by her side. Let’s take a look at some of these beautiful portraits, shall we?
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| Madame De Coumartin as Hebe by Nattier, 1753 |
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| The Duchesse De Chaulnes Represented as Hebe by Nattier, 1744 |
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| Femme en Hebe by Louis Rene Vialy, 1753 |
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| Madame la Dauphine, Marie Antoinette, as Hebe by Francois Hubert Drouais, 1773 |
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| Elizabeth Harriet Warren as Hebe by George Romney, 1776 |
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| Mrs Musters as Hebe by Reynolds, 1785 |
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| Portrait of Anna Pitt as Hebe by Vigee LeBrun, 1792 |
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| A Portrait of Sarah White as Hebe by John Russell |
