Cardinal Jules Mazarin
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
Cardinal Jules Mazarin is a 1643 ink by Claude Mellan, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This portrait depicts a man with a mustache and long hair, wearing a large collar and a dark-colored garment with buttons down the front. The subject is positioned in front of a plain background, with no other objects or people visible in the image. The engraving on laid paper features cross-hatching, which creates a sense of texture and depth in the subject's clothing and facial features. The artist's use of shading and contrast adds volume to the subject's face and hair. The level of detail and realism in this portrait suggests a high level of skill and craftsmanship on the part of the artist. To learn more about the techniques used in this piece, look up the technique of cross-hatching.
Claude Mellan (1598–1688) was a French artist, born in Abbeville.
See the richer artist page
