Reverse Copy of Le Petit Portement de Croix (The Small Carrying of the Cross)
after 1620
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 1 7/8 x 2 9/16 in. (4.8 x 6.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Edwin De T. Bechtel, 1957
Accession Number
57.650.430
Art Historical Context
Jacques Callot, a masterful French printmaker of the early 17th century, created intricate etchings renowned for their dramatic narratives and technical precision. This *Reverse Copy of Le Petit Portement de Croix ( Small Carrying of the Cross, dated after 162, draws from his acclaimed *Petite Passion* series, a set of 25 small-scale etchings depicting scenes from Christ's Passion. The "reverse copy" likely refers to a mirrored impression, a printmaking technique used for study, transfer, or artistic experimentation, showcasing Callot's innovative approach during the Baroque era. Etched on a ...
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...