Virginia de Vezzo da Velletri (wife of Simon Vouet) 1626

Editor: This is Claude Mellan’s portrait of "Virginia de Vezzo da Velletri," Simon Vouet's wife. The lines are so delicate. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Mellan's portrait provides a glimpse into the lives of women artists connected to powerful men. It prompts us to consider Virginia's own artistic achievements, often overshadowed. How does this portrayal reinforce or challenge conventional roles of women in the 17th century? Editor: So, it's about looking beyond the surface, beyond her connection to Vouet? Curator: Precisely. It's about asking: What stories remain untold? What can this image tell us about the creative networks of the time, and the often-unacknowledged contributions of women artists? Editor: I’ll definitely look at portraits differently from now on.