Martyrdom of Saint Simon, plate ten from The Martyrdoms of the Apostles
n.d.
Medium
Etching on paper
Dimensions
7.2 × 4.6 cm (2 7/8 × 1 13/16 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
132554
Art Historical Context
Jacques Callot, a masterful French printmaker of the Baroque era (1592–1635), *Martyrdom of Saint* as plate ten in his series *The Martyrdoms the Apostles*. This intimate etching, measuring just 7.2 × 4.6 cm, captures the gruesome execution of Saint Simon, one of Christ's apostles, likely sawn in half—a traditional motif emphasizing his unwavering faith amid persecution. Produced around the 1620s the Counter-Reformation, series reflected the Catholic Church's push to inspire devotion through vivid depictions of apostolic sacrifices, making religious narratives accessible via affordable prints....
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...