S. Simon et S. Jude, apôtres (St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles), October 28th, 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. Simon et S. Jude, apôtres* (St. Simon and. Jude, Apostles),ates the feast day of these two apostles on October th. Created by the renowned French printmaker Jacques Callot in 1636 and published by Israël Henriet, it forms part of the devotional series *Les Images De Les Saincts et Saint de L'Année*—a comprehensive calendar of saints and religious events designed for personal piety during the Counter-Reformation era. In 17th-century Europe, such prints were popular among the faithful, offering affordable, portable icons for prayer and meditation amid turbulent times like the Thirty Years' War. Callot, a master of the etching technique, showcases his extraordinary skill in this tiny sheet (just 2 9/16 x 1 15/16 inches), the second state of two as cataloged by Lieure. Etching allowed for intricate lines and rich tonal effects, capturing the saints' solemn expressions, flowing robes, and symbolic attributes—hallmarks of Baroque devotional art—with astonishing precision. These "petit" works by Callot were celebrated for their microscopic detail, rivaling larger paintings and making sacred figures accessible to all. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (purchased via the Joseph Pulitzer Bequest in 1917), this print exemplifies how art bridged the divine and everyday life, inviting visitors to appreciate the fusion of technical virtuosity and spiritual devotion.

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...