The ceiling of the ballroom at Marble House has an octagonal-shaped oil on canvas allegorical painting portraying "Athena rescuing a youth from idleness." This painting represents Pallas Athena wearing her helmet and breastplate, accompanied by her attribute, the owl, and carrying aloft a youth who is bidding farewell to a reclining female figure representing Venus. The painting is after a 16th century Italian original by Pietro da Cortona in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence. It was copied by Hugues Taraval in the late 18th century. #newport_mansions #newportri #preservationsocietyofnewportcounty #marblehouse