Le Mariage de Ferdinand 1er (The Marriage of Ferdinand I de'Medici), from La Vie de Ferdinand Ier de Médicis série appelée aussi Les Batailles des Médicis (The Life of Ferdinand I de'Medici also called The Medici Battles)
Medium
Engraving; first state of two (Lieure)
Dimensions
Sheet: 8 7/8 x 11 15/16 in. (22.5 x 30.3 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
57.650.363(1)
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
**Le Mariage de Ferdinand Ier de Médicis** captures a pivotal moment in Tuscan history: the grand marriage of Ferdinand I de' Medici, Duke of Tuscany, to of Lorraine in 158. Part of the series *La Vie de Ferdinand de Médicis* (also known as *Les Batailles des Médicis this engraving from 1614–20 glorifies the Medici dynasty's power and splendor during the early Baroque era. Ferdinand, who ruled from 1587 1609, transformed into a cultural hub, and such ceremonial events underscored the family's political alliances and patronage of the arts. Created through a collaboration between master engraver Jacques Callot and designers Matteo Rosselli and Jacopo da Empoli (Jacopo Chimenti), this first-state impression exemplifies Callot's virtuoso technique. His intricate line work and dynamic compositions—hallmarks of his style—bring the lavish wedding procession to life on a modest 8⅞ × 11¾-inch sheet. Rare early states like this one preserve the purest details before later printings altered the plate, offering collectors a window into 17th-century printmaking artistry. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Bequest of Edwin De T. Bechtel, 1957), it reflects how prints democratized elite spectacles, blending historical narrative with technical innovation for enduring cultural resonance.
About the Artist
Jacques Callot|Matteo Rosselli|Jacopo da Empoli (Jacopo Chimenti) · 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...