Hera is pictured here as a young woman, surrounded by symbols that have traditionally been associated with this goddess. . The bricks or tiles along the wall and the vase are classical; her blue eyeshadow and gold highlights, and the mixed-media paper collaged to make her dress (violin and cello duet scores from the 1920s) are contemporary. Some symbols associated with Hera which I have included in the painting: a white flower (particularly the lily) placed in her hair in place of the tiara often depicted; peacock feathers in the vase behind her; maple trees; pearls; the reference to earthly love or jealousy and violence (for you to decide!) to the left of the vase. I have used gold highlights as accents (these don't show up well in the digital images) to reference luxury , opulance and beauty which, along with mortality, are qualities associated with this mythic figure.