MELLIN, Charles

(b. ~1600 Nancy, d. 1649 Roma)

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.

Judith with the Head of Holofernes

Mellin, who lived in Italy from c. 1618 until his death in Rome in 1649, was influenced by Italian artists such as Mola and Lanfranco, but more strongly by his countrymen Nicolas Poussin and, above all, Simon Vouet.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 17 minutes):

Alessandro Scarlatti: La Giuditta, oratorio, Part I (excerpts)

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Roman Charity

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The Tuscan General Alessandro del Borro (?)

This amusing Baroque painting represents a buffoonlike military figure, genially displaying his corpulence in fullest profile, a Barberini banner at his feet. Formerly the painting was attributed to Bernini, then to Sacchi, and now it is ascribed to Charles Mellin, a Vouet pupil whose career was spent in Italy.

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