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Jacques Callot (1592-1632) was one of the earliest great creative artists to practice the graphic arts exclusively. His career can be divided into two periods: an Italian period, c. 1609-1621, and a Lorraine period from 1621 until his death. Callot studied the technique of engraving under Phillipe Thomasin in Rome. About 1612 he joined Guilio Parigi in Florence. At that time Medici patronage expended itself almost exclusively on "feste," and both Parigi and Callot were employed by Cosimo II (de Medici) to create visual records of these entertainments. Callots compositions are organized as if they were a stage setting and reduced the figures to a tiny scale, each one being rendered by the fewest possible strokes. This required an extremely fine etching technique. Callot enjoyed a lasting popularity all over Europe. He returned to Nancy after Cosimo*s death in 1621. During the Lorraine period Callot illustrated sacred books, made a series of plates of the Apostles, and visited Paris to make animated maps of the sieges of La Rochelle and the Ile de RČ. Callot was one of the first etchers to used the technique of repeated biting, and sometimes combined graver work with etching
Les Gueux / Les Mendiants / Les Baroni / Les Barons
Five from a series of twenty-five plates
representing beggars and poor people.
The set may have been designed in Italy, but
was engraved and published in Nancy
c.1622/23.
Reference: Lieure 479-503 ( I / II )
The
etchings below are from the first state
before adding of the number.
Guaranteed original Callot
| Les Gueux | 5 From the series of 25 in first state ( I / II ) |
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L.487 ( I / II ) |
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L.493 ( I / II ) Man with wooden right leg, in rags, supported by crutches, and facing front; on white ground; first state, before plate number. c.1622/23 |
L.495 ( I / II ) Man wearing hat and coat in rags, left arm resting on walking stick, almost seen from behind, turned to left; on white ground; first state, before plate number. c.1622/23; Etching |
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L.496 ( I / II )
Woman in rags, suckling an infant and carrying another on her back; a boy wearing a plumed hat stands beside her, on the left; on white ground; first state, before plate number. c.1622/23 |
L.502 ( I / II ) Seated old man, dressed in rags, turned to right, eating a bowl of soup; on white ground; first state, before plate number. c.1622/23 |
click on the thumbnails to see a larger image
