Melpomene, from "Twelve Muses and Goddesses" 1535 - 1550

"Melpomene, from "Twelve Muses and Goddesses"" is an etching and engraving by Léon Davent, created between 1535 and 1550. This print depicts Melpomene, the muse of tragedy, as a seated figure draped in a flowing robe. She is looking upwards, perhaps towards a play being performed. The artist’s signature "Bologna - L.D" is inscribed in the lower left corner of the sheet. Davent was a prolific printmaker in the mid-16th century, known for his depictions of classical subjects and mythology. This artwork, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is a fine example of his skill in rendering details and portraying emotion.