Allegory on Good Government in France 1685

Claude Mellan's 1685 engraving, “Allegory on Good Government in France,” presents a complex allegory for the ideal governing of France. The print depicts a scene in a pastoral landscape, with figures personifying various virtues. A group of women read an inscription, likely containing moral principles, while two armored figures, perhaps representing justice and strength, approach the group. Mellan’s detailed, intricate style, achieved through a single, continuous line, emphasizes the clarity and order of the allegory, while also making it appealing to collectors interested in the technical skill of his singular line technique.