Martyrdom of Saint John the Evangelist, from the series 'The little apostles' (Les petits apôtres)

Art Historical Context

Nestled within Jacques Callot's enchanting series *Les petits apôtres* (The Apostles), this etching depicts the *Martyrdom of Saint the Evangelist* around 1632. Callot, a masterful French Baroque printmaker, crafted these diminutive works—measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 11/16 inches on the plate—to evoke intimate devotion. Published by Israël Henriet, the series the apostles as youthful figures, blending tender innocence with dramatic tales of faith, a creative twist on traditional hagiography during the Counter-Reformation era. Etching's precision shines here, as Callot's innovative techniques allowed for extraordinary detail in such a tiny format. Using a needle to incise lines into a wax-coated copper plate, he captured the saint's boiling in oil—a legendary ordeal from which he miraculously emerged unscathed—infusing the scene with dynamic energy and emotional depth. These prints were affordable and portable, making sacred narratives accessible to everyday believers in 17th-century Europe. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department through the bequest of Phyllis Massar in 2011, this gem highlights Callot's legacy in miniature storytelling, bridging art and spirituality for generations of visitors.

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...