S. Martinien et S. Saturien (St. Martinian and St. Saturnian), October 16th, 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

This delicate etching, *S. Martinien et S. Saturien (St. Martinian and St. Saturnian), October 16th*, comes from Jacques Callot's renowned series *Les Images de Tous les Saincts etes de L'Année* (Images of All Saints and Religious Events of Year), published in 6. Callot, a masterful French Baroque printmaker, collaborated with publisher Israël Henriet to create these tiny devotional images, each honoring a saint or feast day. Measuring just 2 9/16 x 1 15/16 inches, this second-state impression captures the martyrs Saints Martinian and Saturnian—early Christian figures venerated for their faith amid persecution—in a compact, intimate format ideal for personal prayer books or calendars during the Counter-Reformation era. Callot's etching technique shines here, employing his innovative use of fine, crisp lines (often via the "échille" swelling lines) to convey intricate details within such a minuscule scale. The second state, as cataloged by Lieure, likely includes refinements like added lettering or shading, enhancing its clarity and appeal. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (purchased via the Joseph Pulitzer Bequest in 1917), it exemplifies 17th-century religious printmaking's role in disseminating hagiography to the faithful. These prints were cultural touchstones, blending artistry with piety to make saints accessible amid turbulent times like the Thirty Years' War, reminding viewers of enduring spiritual heroism.

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...