Who painted The Feast of the Pharisees?

The Feast of the Pharisees was painted by Jacques Callot in 1618.

Where can I see The Feast of the Pharisees?

The Feast of the Pharisees is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Feast of the Pharisees?

The Feast of the Pharisees is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

The Feast of the Pharisees

Jacques Callot , 1618

The Feast of the Pharisees is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1618 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Jacques Callot’s *Feast of the Pharisees* is an early‑17th‑century etching executed on laid paper. Completed in 1618, the print depicts a small gathering of five figures seated around a table, engaged in eating and drinking, with a dog tucked beneath the furnishings. Light enters from the upper left, illuminating the tableau and emphasizing the intricate details of clothing and objects.

Subject & Meaning

The scene presents a convivial meal, likely alluding to a biblical or moralizing narrative involving Pharisees.

The scene presents a convivial meal, likely alluding to a biblical or moralizing narrative involving Pharisees. The participants are dressed in loose, contemporary garments, while the women display elaborate hairstyles and dresses, suggesting a blend of everyday life and religious reference. The inclusion of a dog and the informal setting may hint at a satirical commentary on hypocrisy or indulgence.

Technique & Style

Callot employed the etching process, incising a design into a metal plate with acid and then transferring the image onto paper. His line work is sharp and densely scratched, rendering textures of fabric, facial features, and tableware with remarkable precision. The use of laid paper adds a subtle ribbed texture that interacts with the fine lines of the print.

History & Provenance

Created during Callot’s prolific period in Lorraine, the work belongs to a corpus of more than 1,400 etchings that the artist produced, documenting a range of social and religious subjects. *Feast of the Pharisees* has been catalogued among his religious series and circulated among collectors of early modern prints, though specific ownership records remain limited.

Context

The print emerges from the Baroque era, when French and Italian artists increasingly used printmaking to disseminate narrative scenes. Callot’s interest in everyday detail—soldiers, beggars, and domestic interiors—places this work within his broader effort to record 17th‑century life, blending secular observation with theological motifs.