Who painted Firing the Cannon?

Firing the Cannon was painted by Jacques Callot in 1634.

Where can I see Firing the Cannon?

Firing the Cannon is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Firing the Cannon?

Firing the Cannon is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Firing the Cannon?

Museum-quality prints of Firing the Cannon are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Firing the Cannon

Jacques Callot , 1634

Firing the Cannon is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1634 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1634, *Firing the Cannon* is an etching on laid paper by Jacques Callot, a prolific French printmaker of the early Baroque period. The work belongs to Callot’s extensive output of more than a thousand prints that record everyday and military life in the first half of the seventeenth century.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a brief moment on a battlefield where two figures in period dress operate a wheeled cannon. One man steadies the gun’s wooden handle while his companion pushes from behind; a small burst of flame erupts from the barrel, suggesting a discharge. Nearby objects—a coil of rope and a stack of cannonballs—ground the scene in the logistics of artillery.

Technique & Style

Executed with the etching process, Callot incised the composition into a copper plate, then printed it onto laid paper, preserving the characteristic ribbed texture. The drawing’s loose, rapid lines and modest shading convey a sense of immediacy, reflecting Callot’s skill at rendering complex military equipment with economical strokes.

History & Provenance

A line of text at the bottom reads *Cum Privilegio Reg. Israel excudit*, indicating the printer’s royal privilege and suggesting a connection to a licensed workshop in the region. The print circulated among collectors of the period, contributing to Callot’s reputation as a chronicler of contemporary warfare.