Le Char de Thétis (The Chariot of Thetis), from Guerre de Beauté (Guerra di Bellezza) (War of Beauty)
Medium
Etching; first state of two (Lieure)
Dimensions
Sheet: 6 5/8 x 9 5/8 in. (16.8 x 24.4 cm) Plate: 5 7/8 x 9 1/16 in. (15 x 23 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Edwin De T. Bechtel, 1957
Accession Number
57.650.351(2)
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
**Le Char de ThétisThe Chariot of The), from *Guerre de BeautéGuerra di Bellezza (War of Beauty) Created in 1616 by the French etcher Jacques Callot in collaboration with Italian designer Giulio Parigi, this etching a fantastical chariot drawn by sea creatures, honoring the mythological sea goddess Thetis. Part of a celebrated series depicting elaborate floats from a lavish Florentine tournament, it exemplifies the opulent spectacles of the Medici court under Cosimo II. Measuring just 6 5/8 x 9 5/8 inches, the first-state impression (as catalogued by Lieure) preserves Callot's intricate details with remarkable clarity. The *Guerra di Bellezza* was a mock "war of beauty"—a grand pageant blending chivalric tournaments with classical mythology—held in Florence to celebrate courtly splendor. Callot's etchings immortalized these ephemeral events, transforming them into enduring prints that circulated across Europe. Parigi's architectural designs provided the theatrical framework, while Callot's needle captured the bustling energy of tritons, nymphs, and ornate shells. Etching allowed Callot to achieve unprecedented finesse in linework, rendering crowded compositions with delicate burr and cross-hatching for depth and texture. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the bequest of Edwin De T. Bechtel, this print highlights early Baroque printmaking's role in disseminating Renaissance festival culture, bridging art and spectacle for admirers today.
About the Artist
Jacques Callot|Giulio Parigi · 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...