Martyrdom of Saint Simon, plate ten from The Martyrdoms of the Apostles

Art Historical Context

Jacques Callot, a masterful French printmaker of the Baroque era (1592–1635), *Martyrdom of Saint* as plate ten in his series *The Martyrdoms the Apostles*. This intimate etching, measuring just 7.2 × 4.6 cm, captures the gruesome execution of Saint Simon, one of Christ's apostles, likely sawn in half—a traditional motif emphasizing his unwavering faith amid persecution. Produced around the 1620s the Counter-Reformation, series reflected the Catholic Church's push to inspire devotion through vivid depictions of apostolic sacrifices, making religious narratives accessible via affordable prints. Callot's etching technique shines here: using a needle to incise acid-resistant ground on a metal plate, he achieved extraordinary detail in crowded compositions, dynamic figures, and dramatic lighting. His innovative use of multiple biting stages created swelling lines and tonal depth, revolutionizing printmaking and allowing for mass dissemination of complex scenes. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, this work exemplifies how 17th-century etchings bridged art and piety, inviting viewers to ponder the apostles' endurance in tiny, portable formats perfect for personal devotion or scholarly collections.

About the Artist

Jacques Callot · 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...