S. Paphnuce, évêque (St. Paphnutius, Bishop), September 11th, 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 by Jacques Callot, published by Israël Henriet in 1636, belongs to the ambitious series *Les Images de Tous les Saincts et Saintes de l’Année*. Created as a visual calendar of saints, the print honors St. Paphnutius, Bishop, on his feast day of September 11. Rendered in the compact format of just over two inches tall, the work exemplifies Callot’s mastery of the etching medium, where fine, precise lines bring a sense of quiet dignity to the figure of the saint. Callot, a leading seventeenth-century printmaker, was renowned for his ability to convey narrative and character within remarkably small spaces. Here, the second state of the plate demonstrates the careful refinement typical of devotional prints intended for widespread circulation. Such images served both as aids to private prayer and as educational tools, helping the faithful recognize and remember the saints associated with each day of the liturgical year. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Joseph Pulitzer Bequest in 1917, this modest yet finely crafted print offers a window into the religious culture of early modern Europe, where art and faith were intimately intertwined.

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...