Artwork
Il Solimano, Act III
Il Solimano, Act III 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
Created in 1620 by Jacques Callot, a French printmaker active in the Duchy of Lorraine, *Il Solimano, Act III* is an etching and engraving executed on laid paper. The work belongs to Callot’s prolific series of more than 1,400 prints that recorded a wide range of contemporary subjects, from courtly ceremonies to military encounters and religious narratives.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a theatrical tableau reminiscent of a stage set, with monumental architecture, columns and statues forming a backdrop.
The image presents a theatrical tableau reminiscent of a stage set, with monumental architecture, columns and statues forming a backdrop. Central to the composition are marching soldiers, while costumed actors occupy the flanks, and a small group in the foreground appears engaged in dialogue or performance. Labels such as “Mus” and “Or” identify musical and vocal roles, underscoring the work’s connection to a dramatic moment from a play.
Technique & Style
Callot combined intaglio processes, employing both etching and engraving to achieve fine line work and varied tonal depth on the laid paper support. His characteristic attention to detail is evident in the intricate rendering of the crowd, the architectural elements, and the nuanced gestures of the figures, creating a lively yet ordered visual narrative typical of his baroque sensibility.
History & Provenance
The print forms part of Callot’s extensive output that circulated widely in the early seventeenth century, reflecting contemporary cultural interests in theater and spectacle. While specific ownership records for this particular impression are limited, it is documented within catalogues of Callot’s oeuvre and has been retained in several European museum collections devoted to early modern prints.
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]
