S. Genès, martyr (St. Genesius, Martyr), August 25th, from "Les Images De Tous Les Saincts et Saintes de L'Année" (Images of All of the Saints and Religious Events of the Year)

Art Historical Context

**S. Genès, (St. Genesius, Martyr), August th** From Jacques Callot's *Les Images de Tous les Saincts et Saint de l'Année* (1636), this delicate etching captures the dramatic martyrdom of St. Genes, a 4th-century Roman actor who converted to Christianity mid-performance and was executed under Emperor Diocletian Rendered in the second state of two by cataloguer Lieure, the tiny sheet (just 2 9/16 x 1 15/16 inches) showcases Callot's genius for miniature masterpieces, teeming with figures of saints, angels, and tormentors in a whirlwind of motion. Callot, a leading Baroque etcher from Lorraine, France, collaborated with publisher Israël Henriet to produce this devotional series, aligning with the Counter-Reformation's push for vivid saintly imagery to inspire faith amid religious strife. His etching technique—fine, cross-hatched lines etched into a metal plate—allowed astonishing detail in such a compact format, making these prints affordable and portable for personal piety. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1917 via the Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, this work exemplifies 17th-century printmaking's cultural role: blending artistry with spirituality, it invited viewers to contemplate heroism and divine intervention on the saint's feast day, August 25. A testament to Callot's enduring influence on graphic arts.

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...