1604
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Minerva and Mercury Arming Perseus is a 1604 ink by Jan Muller, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white engraving shows a busy scene with three main figures. A muscular man in the center holds a sword, while a woman with curly hair and a winged hat leans in to help. Behind them, a smaller figure points upward, and more figures climb or stand on rocks. The background has trees and distant people, but the focus is on the action in the foreground. The artist used fine lines and shading to create depth, making the figures look three-dimensional. This kind of detailed linework is typical of engravings from the time. Next, check out the technique: engraving to see how artists like this made their marks.
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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