Allegorie ter ere van het huis Savoye met legendarische figuren op sokkels 1624 - 1636

Claude Mellan created this engraving, Allegory in Honor of the House of Savoy with Legendary Figures on Pedestals, using burin on paper. Mellan worked as a draughtsman for the French Royal family and was known for his clean, academic style. This print, with its display of classical figures, reveals the social and political context of the House of Savoy. They sought to solidify their power through strategic marriages and propagandistic displays of wealth and culture. The allegory elevates the Savoy family by associating them with gods and heroes of antiquity. The artist invokes images of strength and virtue, while subtly reinforcing the social hierarchies of the time. The positioning and classical style convey a sense of timelessness, suggesting that the power of the House of Savoy is divinely ordained and historically inevitable. This work is both a celebration of a specific lineage, and an emotional appeal to preserve this perceived natural and moral order.