The Triumph of David, from a fan by Jacques Callot

Art Historical Context

This etching, titled *The Triumph of David*, captures a lively biblical procession likely inspired by David’s victory over Goliath. Designed by Jacques Callot, one of the most inventive printmakers of the early Baroque period, the scene shows warriors, chariots, and figures on horseback moving in celebratory formation. Though created as a design for a fan—an intimate, handheld object meant for personal use—the composition expands dramatically when translated into print, revealing Callot’s gift for condensing grand narratives into formats. Callot’s etching technique allowed for remarkable detail and tonal range, achieved through multiple acid baths that created both delicate lines and deeper shadows. Later printmakers Balthazar Moncornet and Charles Nicolas Cochin I helped disseminate the design, turning a luxurious accessory into an accessible work of art. The result preserves the elegance of seventeenth-century courtly taste while inviting viewers to appreciate the drama of an ancient story rendered with theatrical flair. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this work highlights how ornamental designs often carried profound cultural and religious meaning. Its presence in the collection reminds us that even functional objects could serve as vehicles for storytelling and artistic innovation.

About the Artist

Jacques Callot|Balthazar Moncornet|Charles Nicolas Cochin I · 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...