Ste. Elisabeth, Reine de Hongrie (St. Elizabeth, Queen of Hungary), November 19th, 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

**Ste. Elisabeth, Reine de Hongrie** (St. Elizabeth, Queen of Hungary), dated November 19th, a delicate etching from Jacques Callot's renowned series *"Les Images De Tous Lescts et Saintes de'Année"* ( of All of the Saints Religious Events of the Year published by Israël Henriet 1636. Callot, a masterful French Baroque printmaker, specialized in intricate, small-scale works that captured religious devotion with remarkable precision. This piece, in its second state of two ( cataloged by Lieure), honors St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231), a pious noblewoman canonized for her charitable works, including caring for the poor and the legendary miracle of bread turning into roses. Measuring just 2 9/16 x 1 15/16 inches, the etching exemplifies Callot's etching technique, which used multiple fine lines to achieve extraordinary detail in tiny formats—ideal for devotional books or calendars. Produced during the Counter-Reformation, when Catholic imagery reinforced faith amid religious strife, these prints were accessible aids for personal piety, blending artistry with spirituality. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (purchased via the Joseph Pulitzer Bequest in 1917), this work highlights Callot's influence on printmaking, bridging fine art and popular devotion in 17th-century Europe. Visitors will appreciate its intimate scale, inviting close inspection of the saint's serene expression and ornate details.

About the Artist

Israël Henriet|Jacques Callot · 1585–1661

Israël Henriet (c. 1590–1661) stands as one of the most important figures in 17th-century French printmaking, not only as an accomplished engraver in his own right but as the principal publisher and preserver of Jacques Callot's extraordinary legacy. Born in Nancy, Lorraine, around 1590, Henriet belonged to an artistic family and grew up as a childhood friend of Callot, the preeminent printmaker o...