Artwork

Peter Raising Tabitha

Peter Raising Tabitha, by Jacques Callot, ink, 1610
Peter Raising Tabitha, by Jacques Callot, ink, 1610

Peter Raising Tabitha is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1610 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1610 by the French Baroque printmaker Jacques Callot, this work is an engraving executed on laid paper. It belongs to the corpus of old‑master prints that combine narrative complexity with meticulous line work, reflecting Callot’s prolific output of more than a thousand images that span religious, military, and everyday subjects.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a densely populated scene in which a standing man hovers over a prone woman, while a crowd of onlookers kneels or stands nearby, their gazes fixed on the central drama. Above the figures, ethereal angels drift, juxtaposing earthly concern with a celestial presence and suggesting a meditation on mortality and divine intervention.

Technique & Style

Callot employs an intricate network of fine lines to model volume and texture, a hallmark of early‑17th‑century engraving. The use of cross‑hatching creates subtle gradations of tone, giving the scene a layered, atmospheric quality. The precision of the line work and the careful rendering of both human figures and heavenly beings exemplify the detailed printmaking practices of the period.

History & Provenance

Originating in the Duchy of Lorraine, the print reflects Callot’s engagement with religious iconography, a recurrent theme throughout his career. While the specific ownership trail of this particular impression is not documented here, it forms part of the larger body of Callot’s prints that circulated widely in Europe, influencing subsequent generations of printmakers.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jacques Callot

Artist

Jacques Callot

Jacques Callot was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.