Elevation of a Passage Plan
1619
Medium
etching and engraving on laid paper [restrike]
Dimensions
sheet: 71 × 46.5 cm (27 15/16 × 18 5/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Transferred from The Library of Congress
Accession Number
1986.50.191
Art Historical Context
Jacques Callot's *Elevation of a Passage Plan (1619) is a masterful print showcasing the French artist's innovative prowess in etching and engraving. Created during Callot's time in Florence under Medici patronage, this work exemplifies his Baroque style, renowned for intricate line work and dramatic spatial illusions. The etching—where acid etches fine lines into a metal plate—combined with engraving's precise burin cuts, allowed Callot to achieve extraordinary detail on laid paper, a period staple valued for its texture and absorbency. This restrike preserves the original's fidelity, measuri...
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...