Mars en Luna naast een helm met kat 1608 - 1688

This etching, *Mars en Luna naast een helm met kat* (Mars and Luna next to a helmet with a cat) by Claude Mellan, dates from between 1608 and 1688. The artwork depicts a coat of arms with Mars and Luna flanking the shield. Mars holds a spear and shield, while Luna holds a torch and looks toward the sun. The design is ornamented with a helmet atop the shield, with a cat sitting upon it. This work is an example of a heraldic etching, a genre popular in the 17th century that combines decorative elements with the visual representation of lineage. The work is currently in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.