Henriette Anne of England, Duchess of Orléans
1643
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1643
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Henriette Anne of England, Duchess of Orléans 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 woman with a serious expression. She wears a high collar and loose curls framing her face. The background is plain, but the edges of the frame are packed with swirling, ornate designs—like vines and scrolls—that look carved from stone. The name below reads *Henriette Anne d’Angleterre*, and the dates say she was born in 1644 and died in 1670. The artist’s mark reads *Mellan*, and the technique uses fine lines to build up shadows and details. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like this create depth with just ink and paper.
