Open full image Pin

Title Page for G. de St. Vincent, Opus Geometricum Quadraturae Circuli

Cornelis Galle II

1647

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Allegory

Dominant colour

Title Page for G. de St. Vincent, Opus Geometricum Quadraturae Circuli is a 1647 ink by Cornelis Galle II, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Cornelis Galle II
When & what style?: 1647 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows a dramatic scene with lots of figures. At the center, a winged woman holds a shield and a globe, standing on a pedestal. Around her, cherubs and robed men gather, some pointing or kneeling. The sky glows with rays from a bright sun, and the background has distant buildings and a ship. The tiny details in the clothing and objects suggest this is more than just a scene—it’s a symbolic picture, or allegory. The artist used lines and shading to create depth and drama, which was common in this style. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made prints with metal plates.