The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Pierre Milan
1554
Medium
Engraving on cream laid paper
Dimensions
52.2 × 32.9 cm (20 9/16 × 13 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
124655
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The Nymph of Fontainebleau appeared in several guises at King Francis I’s charming getaway outside of Paris. This Mannerist engraving by Pierre Milan refers to a bronze relief sculpture by the Italian Renaissance artist Benvenuto Cellini. Francis commissioned this sculpture of the mythological woodland creature to go over the main entryway to the château. While differently composed than the relief, the print retains the detail of the spilling water vase, the nymph’s languorous posture, and the p...