What movement is The Siege of La Rochelle [plate 4 of 16; set comprises 1952.8.97-112]?

The Siege of La Rochelle [plate 4 of 16; set comprises 1952.8.97-112] is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

The Siege of La Rochelle [plate 4 of 16; set comprises 1952.8.97-112]

The Siege of La Rochelle [plate 4 of 16; set comprises 1952.8.97-112] is an ink print by the Baroque artist French 17th Century. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work is an early‑modern print comprising an etched and engraved plate on laid paper.

About this work

Overview

The work is an early‑modern print comprising an etched and engraved plate on laid paper. It forms the fourth image of a sixteen‑piece series that records the 1627‑28 Siege of La Rochelle, a decisive royal campaign in France. The composition includes a central illustration surrounded by ornamental borders and a caption in French that identifies the artist and the event.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts scenes from the royal siege of the Huguenot stronghold of La Rochelle, celebrating the eventual victory of the French crown. Textual elements frame the visual narrative, emphasizing the triumph of the king’s forces and the restoration of royal authority over the rebellious port city.

Technique & Style

Created through a combination of etching and engraving, the print shows the fine line work characteristic of early 17th‑century printmaking. The laid paper surface provides a subtle texture, while the decorative scrollwork and crown motif around the edges reflect contemporary tastes for elaborate framing in commemorative prints.

History & Provenance

The plate is catalogued as item 1952.8.97‑112 in a museum collection, indicating its acquisition in the mid‑20th century. As part of a larger series, it was likely produced shortly after the siege to disseminate news of the royal victory and to serve as a visual record for patrons and the public.

Context

The Siege of La Rochelle was a pivotal episode in the French Wars of Religion, marking the decline of Huguenot political power. Prints such as this were used to document and legitimize the monarchy’s military successes, reinforcing the narrative of centralized authority during the reign of Louis XIII.

Artist & collection

Artist

French 17th Century

Seventeenth-century French printmakers turned ink into story. Their tools were burin and acid, paper their stage. Look at the Beggar Woman with Rosary (1622), etched on laid paper, her hands folded around faith, or The…