Diana in Her Chariot (La Lune sur son char)

Art Historical Context

Behold *Diana in Her Chariot (La Lune sur son char, a captivating 1633 engraving from the Metropolitan of Art's Drawings and Prints collection. Created master engraver Claude Mellan, likely after designs by the Baroque painter Pietro da Cortona (Pietrorettini) and in collaboration with publisher Giovanni Battista Ferrari, this measures about 11 x 7½ inches on its sheet. It vividly captures the Roman goddess Diana—Huntress and Moon deity—riding triumphantly in her chariot, pulled by spirited horses and surrounded by playful putti (cherubic figures), evoking the grandeur of classical mythology. Engraving, the medium here, was a revolutionary technique in the 17th century, allowing intricate details to be reproduced precisely from elaborate drawings. Mellan's skilled burin work translates Cortona's dynamic Baroque style—characterized by dramatic movement, rich contrasts, and exuberant energy—into a portable format. This print exemplifies how Baroque artists blended pagan antiquity with Christian-era opulence, making elite imagery accessible to a wider audience through prints. Diana's lunar chariot symbolizes chastity, the night sky, and wild nature, resonating in an era fascinated by astronomy and allegory. Acquired via the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1917, this work invites visitors to ponder the interplay of art, science, and myth in the Baroque world.

About the Artist

Claude Mellan|Pietro da Cortona (Pietro Berrettini)|Giovanni Battista Ferrari · 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...