The Crowning with Thorns
c. 1618
Medium
etching and engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet (trimmed to plate mark): 11 × 21.2 cm (4 5/16 × 8 3/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1949.5.277
Art Historical Context
Jacques Callot's *The Crowning with Th* (c. 1618) captures a pivotal moment from the Passion of Christ, depicting the mocking of Jesus by Roman soldiers as described in the Gospels. Created during Callot's time in Florence under Medici patronage, this intimate print reflects the artist's mastery of Baroque drama, blending religious devotion with intricate narrative detail. At just 11 × 21.2 cm, its trimmed sheet invites close viewing, drawing visitors into the emotional intensity of the scene. Callot, a pioneering French printmaker, combined etching—where acid etches lines into a metal plate ...
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...