1598
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Cleopatra is a 1598 ink by Jan Muller, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
A woman in flowing robes sits on a throne, holding a small child. The child reaches for a bowl on the floor, while the woman looks away, her face calm. Behind them, a curtain frames the scene, and a vase of flowers sits on a ledge to the left. This is an engraving, not a painting—look at the fine lines and shading. The artist used cross-hatching to build up shadows and texture. Next, check out the technique: engraving to see how artists like this carved images into metal.
Jan Harmensz. Muller (1571–1628) was a Dutch engraver and painter. Muller was born in Amsterdam. His father was a book printer, engraver and publisher. He learned the engraving trade while working in the family…
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