The Death of St. Benedict, plate 13 from "Les Eglises Jubilaires" (The Paintings of Rome, The Churches Jubilee)

Art Historical Context

In the intricate engraving *The Death of St.*, plate 13 from Jacques Callot's series *Les Eglises Jubilaires* (The Paintings of Rome, The Churches), created between 1607 and 1611, we witness a poignant moment from the life of the 6th-century founder of Western monasticism. Collaborating with Italian Mannerist painter Giovanni de'chi, who likely provided the original composition, Callot masterfully reproduced a fresco from one of Rome's Jubilee churches. The scene captures St. Benedict on his deathbed, surrounded by monks, saints, children, men, and women in a compact 4 13/16 x 3 1/16-inch sheet, evoking the solemnity of monastic devotion. This second-state engraving, as cataloged by Lieure, exemplifies Callot's Baroque precision in printmaking. Renowned for his intricate line work, Callot translated Vecchi's painted imagery into fine, detailed etchings that allowed widespread dissemination of sacred Roman art during the post-1600 Jubilee era—a time of spiritual renewal drawing pilgrims to the Eternal City. Such prints preserved ephemeral church decorations, blending French technical virtuosity with Italian religious fervor. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, this work highlights engraving's role in democratizing art, making holy narratives accessible beyond Rome's walls and bridging Mannerism's elegance with emerging Baroque drama.

About the Artist

Jacques Callot|Giovanni de' Vecchi · 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...