La Grande Duchesse Marie des Jeunes Filles, from La Vie de Ferdinand Ier de Médicis série appelée aussi Les Batailles des Médicis (The Life of Ferdinand I de'Medici also called The Medici Battles)
Medium
Engraving; first state of two (Lieure)
Dimensions
Sheet: 7 13/16 x 11 13/16 in. (19.8 x 30 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.501.4007
Art Historical Context
This engraving, created between 1614 and 1620 by Jacques Callot after designs by Matteo Rosselli, forms part of the ambitious series *The Life of Ferdinand I de’ Medici*, also known as *The Medici Battles*. The print depicts scenes from the grand duke’s reign, here highlighting the figure of the Grand Duchess Marie alongside young noblewomen. As the first state of two impressions, it showcases Callot’s meticulous line work and ability to convey both grandeur and intimate detail within a modest sheet measuring roughly 8 by 12 inches. Ferdinand I de’ Medici ruled Tuscany from 1587 to 1609, tran...
About the Artist
Jacques Callot|Matteo Rosselli · 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...