Christ, The Savior, from Les Grands Apôtres Debout, Représentant Le Sauveur, La Bienheureuse Marie et Les Saints Apôtres (The Large Standing Apostles, Representing The Savior, The Blessed Mary and The Apostles)

Art Historical Context

Behold *Christ, The Savior*, a masterful etching from Jacques Callot's 1631 series *Les Grandsôtres Debout* (The Large Standing Apostles which depicts the Savior, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Apostles in monumental poses. Created in collaboration with publisher Israël Henriet, this print exemplifies Callot's prowess as a leading French Baroque etcher. At just 5 11/16 x 3 11/16 inches, its intimate scale belies the grandeur of the standing Christ, rendered with Callot's signature precision and spiritual intensity, reflecting the era's fervent Counter-Reformation devotion. Etching in its second state of two (as cataloged by Lieure), the work showcases Callot's innovative technique: fine lines incised into a copper plate with acid, allowing for extraordinary detail in drapery, facial expression, and haloed aura. This state likely includes refinements that enhance contrast and depth, making the divine figure leap from the page. Callot, renowned for series like the *Miseries of War*, here channels religious piety, producing devotional images that were widely collected across Europe. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department through the bequest of Edwin de T. Bechtel, this print invites contemplation of faith's visual power in 17th-century art, bridging technical virtuosity with profound theological symbolism.

About the Artist

Jacques Callot|Israël Henriet · 1592–1635

Jacques Callot (1592–1635) was a French printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine, widely regarded as one of the first great artists to practice the graphic arts exclusively. His more than 1,400 etchings chronicled the breadth of 17th-century life, from Medici court festivities to the brutal realities of warfare. Callot revolutionized etching through technical innovations including the é...