Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu
1643
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 page1643
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu is a 1643 ink by Claude Mellan, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white portrait of a serious-looking man in a fancy robe. He’s holding a scroll or paper in one hand and a long staff in the other. Behind him, there’s a small scene of a ship on water, and two small figures peeking over a ledge. The text at the bottom says *"Le Grand Armand Card. Duc de Richelieu."* The artist used fine lines and shading to create depth, focusing on the man’s face and hands. This is an engraving, not a painting—you can tell by the way the lines are etched into the paper. If you like this style, look up engraving to see how artists carved these details.
Claude Mellan (1598–1688) was a French artist, born in Abbeville.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
