S. Denis, S. Rustique et S. Eleuthère (St. Denis, St. Rusticus, and St. Eleutherius), October 9th, from "Les Images De Tous Les Saincts et Saintes de L'Année" (Images of All of the Saints and Religious Events of the Year)
Medium
Etching; second state of two (Lieure)
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 9/16 x 1 15/16 in. (6.5 x 5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1917
Accession Number
17.50.17-371(357)
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate etching, *S. Denis, S. Rustique et S.uthère (St., St. Rusticus, and St. Eleuther), October 9th*, comes from Jacques Callot's renowned series *Les Images de Tous les Saincts et Saintes de L'Année* (1636), a comprehensive devotional compendium depicting saints and religious events for the liturgical calendar. Created during France's Baroque era amid the Counter-Reformation, these prints were designed for personal piety, allowing the faithful to meditate on holy figures like St. Denis—Paris's patron saint and first bishop—alongside his companions, martyrs Rusticus and Eleutherius. Published with Israël Henriet, the series reflects the era's fervor for accessible religious imagery. Callot, a master etcher from Lorraine, excelled in rendering intricate details within tiny formats—here, just 2 9/16 x 1 15/16 inches—using fine, precise lines that capture the saints' serene expressions and flowing robes. This second state of two, as catalogued by Lieure, showcases refinements in shading and burr for richer tonal depth, a hallmark of Callot's innovative technique that influenced printmaking across Europe. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (purchased via the Joseph Pulitzer Bequest in 1917), it exemplifies how 17th-century etchings bridged art and spirituality for everyday devotees.
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...