"The Lady in Mourning", engraving by Jacques Callot from the 17th century

This engraving is part of a series of 12 plates entitled "la noblesse". Numbered 5, it was published with the other 11 between 1620 and 1623. It depicts a lady wearing a mourning garment, with a funeral procession behind her. Collector's stamp, probably from the 18th or 19th century lower right dimensions 5.51 X 3.54 inches 13 X 16.92 inches with frame jacques callot was a lorraine draftsman and engraver of the 17th century. He is considered one of the masters of engraving. His engravings are characterized by great sharpness and deep inking. The scenes depicted are very abundant on rather small surfaces. He began an apprenticeship in rome in 1609. There he joined his friend israel henriet. There he met artists such as antonio tempesta, an aquafortist. He entered the studio of philippe thomassin, who taught him the technique of engraving with a chisel. At the end of 1611, he went to florence and received the medici protectorate. He made 15 of the 29 plates entrusted to antonio tempesta, where he experimented with engraving. He then became the engraver of the festivities organized at the uffizi palace. From 1621, he returned to lorraine. He then published picturesque series based on his memories of italy, bali and gobbi. He also produced a series called les mendiants. He also began work on a series of 490 plates constituting the book of saints, published after his death. During this period, he also produced a sequel entitled les bohémiens, as well as les supplices. His main work remains a series of eighteen engravings entitled les misères et les malheurs de la guerre. This work deals with the devastation caused by the thirty years' war (1618-1648).

Ref. : KUUH3ESC