S. Théodore, confesseur (St. Theodore Trichinas, Confessor), April 20th, 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. Théodore,esseur (St. Theodoreinas, Confessor)*, dated April 20th, from Jacques Callot's renowned series *Les Images de Tous les Saincts et Saintes de L'Année* (Images of All Saints and Religious Events of Year), published by Israël Henriet in 6. Callot, a masterful French Baroque printmaker, created these tiny devotional images—measuring just 2 9/16 x 1 15/16 inches—to the faithful through the liturgical calendar, one saint per day. St. Theodore Trichinas, a 9th-century Byzantine monk famed for his extreme asceticism (including plucking his own hair in penance), is depicted here amid demons, symbolizing his triumph over temptation. Callot's etching technique shines in this second state of two (as cataloged by Lieure), where fine, intricate lines capture spiritual drama on an intimate scale. His innovative use of multiple biting and the échallier needle allowed for unprecedented detail in such small formats, making these prints both portable aids for prayer and virtuoso showcases of printmaking artistry. Produced during the Counter-Reformation, they reflect the era's fervent Catholic devotion, blending hagiography with artistic precision. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (purchased via the Joseph Pulitzer Bequest in 1917), this work invites visitors to marvel at how 17th-century ingenuity turned faith into exquisite, pocket-sized art.

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...