The Marriage of Ferdinand de' Medici and the Duchess Christine de Lorraine, plate 1 from The Life of Ferdinand de' Medici
1616/20
Medium
Engraving on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Sheet; trimmed to plate: 22.5 × 30 cm (8 7/8 × 11 13/16 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
50241
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Jacques Callot's father served the Duke of Lorraine in France; thus, when Callot was appointed court artist to the Medici family in Florence, Italy, in 1614, he was already accustomed to the stately ceremonies of nobility. At court he documented lavish events through his prints such as The Marriage. Here a distinguished group of spectators witnesses the marriage of Ferdinand de' Medici and Duchess Christine. In contrast to Callot's usual medium of etching, The Marriage was executed as an engravi...
About the Artist
Jacques Callot · 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...