Muze zet Horatius een satyrmasker op
1642
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
226; 347
About this artwork
verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 240
Art Historical Context
Claude Mellan's *Muze zet Horatius eenyrmasker op* (Muse Puts a Satyr Mask Horace), created in 1642, is a captivating engraving that blends classical mythology with literary allusion. The French Baroque artist, renowned for his virtuoso line work, depicts a muse adorning the Roman poet Horace with a sat's mask—a playful yet provocative scene evoking themes of inspiration, disguise, and the wilder impulses of creativity. At 347 × 226 mm, this substantial print reflects the era's fascination with antiquity, drawing on Horace's odes to explore the muses' transformative power. Mellan's mastery of...
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...