Allegory of Intellect, Memory, and Will
1625
ink
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 page1625
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Allegory of Intellect, Memory, and Will is a 1625 ink by Claude Mellan, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows three figures in a rocky, tree-filled scene. On the left, a woman with curly hair holds a scroll, while a cherub hovers behind her. In the center, a seated man with a beard plays a lyre, and another cherub leans over him. To the right, a woman with a headscarf looks at the man, with a bird perched nearby. The background is packed with tangled branches and small figures. The tiny text at the bottom is Latin, but the title tells us it’s about memory, intellect, and will. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and textures, making the figures look three-dimensional. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
Claude Mellan (1598–1688) was a French artist, born in Abbeville.
See the richer artist page
