Artwork

Saint Jerome Instructing his Disciples in the Desert

Saint Jerome Instructing his Disciples in the Desert, by Jacques Callot, ink, 1610
Saint Jerome Instructing his Disciples in the Desert, by Jacques Callot, ink, 1610

Saint Jerome Instructing his Disciples in the Desert 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

This engraving on laid paper, titled 'Saint Jerome Instructing his Disciples in the Desert', is a print by Jacques Callot, a French artist active in the Duchy of Lorraine.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts Saint Jerome, a scholarly hermit, teaching a group of followers in a desert landscape, conveying a moment of spiritual instruction.

Technique & Style

The print showcases Callot's use of cross-hatching, a technique involving closely spaced parallel lines that create shading and depth, giving the figures a three-dimensional appearance.

History & Provenance

Created in 1610, the work is part of Callot's extensive oeuvre of over 1,400 etchings, which often featured detailed landscapes and documented various aspects of contemporary life.

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.