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The Purification of Aeneas

Michel Corneille

1663

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Allegory

Dominant colour

The Purification of Aeneas is a 1663 ink by Michel Corneille, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Michel Corneille
When & what style?: 1663 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This drawing shows a group of figures in a dramatic scene. A woman with flowing hair stands near a fountain, while others kneel or reach toward her. Around them, cherubs float and small animals wander. The background has swirling clouds and a distant city, all sketched in brown ink with blue shading. The artist used a technique called *cross-hatching*—layered lines to create shadows. This was common in Baroque art, which often packed scenes with movement and emotion. Look up Baroque next to see more examples of this bold, busy style.