Artwork
Il Solimano, Act II
Il Solimano, Act II is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1620 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jacques Callot, a French printmaker active in the early seventeenth century, produced the print *Il Solimano, Act II* in 1620. Executed with a combination of etching and engraving on laid paper, the work belongs to Callot’s prolific series of more than fourteen hundred prints that record a wide range of social and military subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a theatrical setting composed of towering, empty structures and classical columns, populated by groups of elegantly dressed figures.
The image presents a theatrical setting composed of towering, empty structures and classical columns, populated by groups of elegantly dressed figures. Some participants hold torches or banners, suggesting a ceremonial or staged event. Central characters, distinguished by different attire, may represent royalty or actors, while the labels beneath—*Rus.*, *Sol.*, *Reg.*, *Nut.*—indicate specific roles or identities within the scene.
Technique & Style
Callot employed both etching, which allows for fluid line work, and engraving, which adds crisp, precise details. The combination yields a richly textured surface where intricate architectural elements coexist with a crowded, animated populace. His characteristic attention to landscape and figure variety is evident in the balanced composition of architecture, statuary, and numerous individual gestures.
History & Provenance
Created in 1620, the print forms part of Callot’s early output before his later series such as *Les Grandes Misères*. While the specific ownership trail of this particular impression is not documented here, prints of this period often circulated among collectors and patrons of the Lorraine court, reflecting the artist’s reputation across Europe.
Context
*Il Solimano, Act II* reflects the Baroque fascination with spectacle, combining real and imagined architectural settings to stage a narrative tableau. The work aligns with contemporary theatrical productions and courtly pageantry, illustrating how print media could disseminate images of grand events to a broader audience beyond the immediate performance space.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacques Callot was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine.
Holy Family at supper
Restoration of the Aqueduct at Pisa
Restoration of the Aqueduct at Pisa
Square in Paris with Many Figures
Square in Paris with Many Figures
Horsemen Attacked by Robbers
HOW WILL A COVERED PART BE CORRECTED?HOW WIKA A COVERED HEART DEED CORRECTED?![Christ Walking on the Water [second plate], by Jacques Callot](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/jacques-callot--christ-walking-on-the-water-second-plate--2069f3bfe4cb2126-w320.webp)
Christ Walking on the Water [second plate]
