A Young Nun
1643
graphite
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Claude Mellan
Claude Mellan (1598–1688) was a French artist, born in Abbeville.
See the richer artist page1643
graphite
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
A Young Nun is a 1643 graphite by Claude Mellan, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a woman wearing a white head covering and neckline, like a nun’s habit. Her face is drawn in soft pencil and chalk, with light shading on her cheeks and a faint smile. The background is plain, so all your focus stays on her face. The artist used light pencil strokes to show her skin and clothes, making them look smooth. The red chalk adds a little warmth to her cheeks. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create depth in drawings.
Claude Mellan (1598–1688) was a French artist, born in Abbeville.
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