Reverse Copy of La Course de Chevaux sur la Place Pitti a Florence (The Horse Race at the Piazza Pitti in Florence), from "Les Caprices", Series A, The Florence Set
17th century
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 1/8 x 3 1/8 in. (5.4 x 7.9 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1917
Accession Number
17.50.17-510
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This delicate 17th-century etching, titled *Reverse Copy of La Course de Chevaux sur la Place Pitti a Florence* (The Horse Race at the Piazza Pitti in Florence), is an anonymous reproduction of a work by the renowned French printmaker Jacques Callot. Part of *Les Caprices*, Series A (The Florence Set), it captures the thrill of a chaotic horse race in Florence's grand Piazza Pitti. Callot, who worked extensively in Tuscany under Medici patronage, was a master of etching, producing intricate scenes of festivals, spectacles, and daily life in remarkably small formats—here, just 2 1/8 x 3 1/8 inches. Etching's fine lines allowed Callot and his copiers to pack vivid details into tiny sheets: thundering horses, cheering crowds, and architectural backdrops evoking Renaissance Florence. The "reverse" orientation suggests a flipped image, likely created via tracing or transfer techniques common for disseminating popular prints. These series celebrated the opulent public entertainments of Baroque-era Italy, blending artistry with social commentary on exuberant, sometimes unruly gatherings. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1917 through the Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, this print highlights Callot's enduring influence—his works were so coveted they inspired countless copies. Up close, it invites visitors to marvel at the technical wizardry and lively energy of 17th-century European street life.
About the Artist
Jacques Callot|Anonymous · 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...