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Title Page for Liutprand, Opera

Cornelis Galle II

1640

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Allegory

Dominant colour

Title Page for Liutprand, Opera is a 1640 ink by Cornelis Galle II, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Cornelis Galle II
When & what style?: 1640 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a woman sitting on a tall pedestal. She holds a torch in one hand and a scroll in the other. Two men stand on either side, looking up at her. Below, there’s a small picture of a shipwreck and lots of fancy Latin words wrapped around the scene. The woman likely stands for a big idea—like peace or victory—while the shipwreck might hint at something lost or saved. The print was made by cutting lines into metal, then inking it. Check out engraving to see how artists create detailed prints this way.