Charles Mellin

1600 – 1649

French painter and draughtsman, active in Italy. He came from a Liégeois family recently settled in Nancy, then the capital of the independent duchy of Lorraine. He trained in that city at a time when the leading artist was Jacques Bellange. He must have left for Italy, perhaps with the help of Duke Henry II (reg 1608-24), around 1618-20, since he was in Rome from 1620 onwards. He built his career principally in Rome but spent two lengthy periods in Naples. In Rome he remained in contact with other artists from his native duchy, including Claude Lorrain who witnessed his will.

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