The Martyrdom of Saint Philip
c. 1634/1635
Medium
etching on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 6.9 × 4.3 cm (2 11/16 × 1 11/16 in.) sheet: 8.9 × 6.2 cm (3 1/2 × 2 7/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
R.L. Baumfeld Collection
Accession Number
1969.15.821
Art Historical Context
Jacques Callot's *The Martyrdom of Philip* (c. 1634/1635) captures a pivotal moment in Christian hagiography: the brutal execution of the apostle Saint Philip, traditionally crucified upside down for refusing to worship a pagan idol. This tiny etching, measuring just 6.9 × 4.3 cm on the plate, exemplifies Callot's mastery during the Baroque era, a time when dramatic religious imagery fueled the Counter-Reformation's appeal. As a leading French printmaker active in Italy and Lorraine, Callot revolutionized etching with his innovative use of multiple biting techniques on laid paper, achieving e...
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...