Artwork

St. Calixtus; St. Hedwiges; Sts. Martinian and Saturian; St. Florentinus

St. Calixtus; St. Hedwiges; Sts. Martinian and Saturian; St. Florentinus is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1634 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1634, this print by Jacques Callot presents four distinct oval vignettes on a single sheet of laid paper. Each vignette is labeled with the name of a saint—St. Calixtus, St. Hedwiges, Sts. Martinian and Saturian, and St. Florentinus—allowing the viewer to follow separate narrative moments within a unified religious composition.

Subject & Meaning

Martinian and Saturian, while the lower right depicts a bishop-like figure presenting an object to a kneeling man, a reference to St.

The four scenes illustrate episodes associated with the named saints. In the upper left, a figure is lowered from a window into a basket, a motif linked to St. Calixtus. The upper right shows a seated woman surrounded by attendants, identified as St. Hedwiges. The lower left features two robed men together, representing Sts. Martinian and Saturian, while the lower right depicts a bishop-like figure presenting an object to a kneeling man, a reference to St. Florentinus.

Technique & Style

Callot employed the etching process on laid paper, incising fine, controlled lines that yield a dense, dark network of marks. The precision of his hand is evident in the crisp outlines of figures and architectural details, while the contrast between the deep blacks and the paper’s texture creates a sense of depth across the compact oval formats.

History & Provenance

Jacques Callot, a prolific French printmaker from the Duchy of Lorraine, produced more than 1,400 etchings during his career, ranging from military subjects to courtly and devotional scenes. This work belongs to his series of religious prints, a group that circulated among collectors and patrons in the mid‑17th century, reflecting the period’s demand for portable, illustrated hagiographies.