Who painted Noah's Ark?

Noah's Ark was painted by Jacques Callot in 1628.

Where can I see Noah's Ark?

Noah's Ark is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Noah's Ark?

Noah's Ark is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Noah's Ark

Jacques Callot , 1628

Noah's Ark is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1628 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Jacques Callot’s 1628 print titled *Noah’s Ark* is an etching executed on laid paper. The work measures the artist’s characteristic baroque sensibility, presenting a wooden vessel with a pointed roof navigating a turbulent sea, while a solitary bird circles overhead and a barren tree stands nearby.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts the biblical narrative of the ark, emphasizing the precariousness of the flood’s waters. The inclusion of a leafless tree and a lone bird may suggest themes of desolation and hope amid catastrophe, inviting contemplation of survival and renewal.

Technique & Style

Callot employed the etching process, incising fine lines into a copper plate that were then transferred onto laid paper. His handling of line is both precise and vigorous, rendering the texture of timber, the agitation of waves, and the delicate forms of the bird with a distinctly scratchy yet controlled hand.

History & Provenance

A prolific figure in early seventeenth‑century printmaking, Callot produced more than 1,400 etchings across a range of subjects. *Noah’s Ark* belongs to this extensive output, reflecting his interest in religious themes alongside his documented military and genre scenes.

Context

Created in the Duchy of Lorraine during the Baroque period, the print aligns with contemporary artistic trends that favored dramatic narratives and intricate detail. Callot’s work often merged expansive landscapes with populated scenes, a practice evident in the crowded yet orderly arrangement of figures and natural elements in this piece.