Pallas and the Centaur

What you see

Pallas fills almost the full height of the canvas, standing on the right with a tall halberd in her left hand. With her right she reaches the head of the centaur, who shrinks back on the left beside a wall of rock, a bow in his hand and a quiver on his back. He looks up at her with a pained face; she gazes down calmly. Behind them opens a bay.

Her white gown is covered with small interlocking rings, and olive branches wind around her arms, chest and head. The dark green cloak and the centaur’s brown body stand out against the pale sky. Notice the goddess’s orange footwear and the little boat sailing in the distance between the two figures.