Who painted The Homages of the Infant Saint John?

The Homages of the Infant Saint John was painted by Jacques Callot in 1628.

Where can I see The Homages of the Infant Saint John?

The Homages of the Infant Saint John is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Homages of the Infant Saint John?

The Homages of the Infant Saint John is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Homages of the Infant Saint John

Jacques Callot , 1628

The Homages of the Infant Saint John is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1628 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1628, *The Homages of the Infant Saint John* is a black‑and‑white print by Jacques Callot, a French baroque artist active in the Duchy of Lorraine. Executed with both etching and engraving on laid paper, the work presents a devotional scene centered on the Virgin and Child, surrounded by angels and a venerable elder figure.

Subject & Meaning

The composition portrays the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, flanked by two hovering angels. To the right, an elderly man with a white beard and staff observes the tableau, suggesting a reference to Saint John the Baptist in his youth. The pulled‑back curtain and luminous background evoke a sense of revelation, emphasizing reverence toward the holy figures.

Technique & Style

Callot combined the fluid lines of etching with the precise incisions of engraving, allowing intricate detail in the figures and a nuanced gradation of tones. The laid‑paper surface contributes a subtle texture, while the chiaroscuro—contrast of light and shadow—creates depth and dramatizes the central group, a hallmark of Callot’s baroque sensibility.

History & Provenance

Part of Callot’s extensive oeuvre of more than 1,400 prints, this piece belongs to his religious series that documented sacred narratives alongside his well‑known depictions of soldiers and courtly life. Produced in the early 1620s, it reflects the artist’s mature period in Lorraine before his later work in Paris, and it has been held in several European print collections since the 18th century.