Nicolas Grillet
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
Dominant colour
Nicolas Grillet 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 man with curly hair and a beard. He’s wearing a dark collar that stands out against his face. The background is plain, with just a few lines framing his head in a circle. Notice the tiny lines all over his face and clothes—these aren’t mistakes. They’re part of the *cross-hatching* technique, which builds up shadows with layered lines. If you like this style, look up engraving to see how artists create depth with just ink and paper.
Claude Mellan (1598–1688) was a French artist, born in Abbeville.
See the richer artist page
