Eerste intermezzo: de reus Typheus (Typhon) onder de berg Ischia
1617
Medium
etching
Dimensions
286; 205
About this artwork
ets
Art Historical Context
Jacques Callot's *Eerste intermezzo de reus Typheus (phon) onder de bergchia* (1617) is a captivating etching measuring 286 × 205 mm, capturing a dramatic mythological scene from Greek lore. The giant Typhon a monstrous serpentine figure buried by Zeus beneath Mount Etna (here reimagined under the volcanic island of Ischia), writhes in fiery torment amid erupting lava and chaotic forms. Created during Callot's time in Florence, this work likely illustrates the first intermezzo of a lavish court spectacle, blending ancient myth with Baroque theatricality. As a master etcher, Callot revolutioni...
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...