Artwork

Sermon on the Mount

Sermon on the Mount, by Jacques Callot, ink, 1635
Sermon on the Mount, by Jacques Callot, ink, 1635

Sermon on the Mount is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1635, *Sermon on the Mount* is an etching on laid paper by Jacques Callot, a French printmaker active in the Duchy of Lorraine. The work belongs to the Baroque period and measures the biblical episode of Jesus addressing a gathering on a hillside, rendered in a single monochrome print.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a crowd of listeners seated on a slope, framed by trees, while a figure identified as Jesus stands on a rock with his arms uplifted. The arrangement emphasizes the act of preaching and the communal reception of the teachings, reflecting Callot’s interest in religious narratives.

Technique & Style

Callot employs his characteristic fine line work to model the landscape and figures, creating a sense of depth through delicate hatching. Contrasting the luminous sky with the darker garments of the audience, the etching achieves a subtle chiaroscuro effect that enhances spatial recession and the immediacy of the scene.

History & Provenance

Part of Callot’s prolific output of more than 1,400 etchings, this print illustrates his broader documentation of contemporary life, ranging from military subjects to devotional scenes. While the original ownership record is unclear, the work has been cited in catalogues of Baroque print collections and remains a representative example of Callot’s religious series.

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.