Allegory in Honor of the Roman College Founded by the Borghese Family
Medium
Engraving; third state of three
Dimensions
sheet: 10 7/16 x 14 in. (26.5 x 35.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.501.4303
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking engraving, *Allegory in Honor of Roman College Founded by the Borghese Family*, celebrates the institution established in 1603 by Pope Paul V of the influential Borghese family. Created as a collaborative masterpiece, it features a design by the Baroque virtuoso Pietro da Cortona (1596–1669), known for his dynamic compositions and grand architectural visions, and was masterfully engraved by Claude Mellan (1598–1688), a French printmaker renowned for his intricate line work. Produced between 1615 and 1688, this third state of three represents a refined final version, measuring 10 ...
About the Artist
Claude Mellan|Pietro da Cortona (Pietro Berrettini) · 1598–1688
Claude Mellan (1598-1688) was a French draughtsman, engraver, and painter who became one of the most innovative printmakers of the French Baroque period. Born in Abbeville to a family of coppersmiths, Mellan rose to become Peintre et Graveur Ordinaire du Roi (Painter and Engraver in Ordinary to the King), achieving recognition for his extraordinary technical mastery. Mellan's artistic significanc...