Minerva
Medium
Engraving; second state of two
Dimensions
sheet: 9 7/16 x 13 3/8 in. (24 x 34 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1941
Accession Number
41.57.26
Tags
Art Historical Context
Claude Mellan's *Minerva*, an exquisite engraving from the 17th century, captures Roman goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare in a dynamic pose, surrounded by her iconic attributes: shields and spears. As a master French engraver active during the Baroque era, Mellan was celebrated for his unparalleled technical skill, producing intricate prints that rivaled paintings in depth and detail. This second state of two impressions—likely refined with additional lines or shading—showcases his virtuosity in line work, a hallmark of his style that pushed the boundaries of printmaking. Engraving, the...
About the Artist
Claude Mellan · 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...