Artwork

The Martyrdom of the Apostles: St. Simon

The Martyrdom of the Apostles:  St. Simon, by Jacques Callot, 1632
The Martyrdom of the Apostles:  St. Simon, by Jacques Callot, 1632

The Martyrdom of the Apostles: St. Simon is a print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1632 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The Martyrdom of the Apostles: St.

About this work

Overview

The Martyrdom of the Apostles: St. Simon, a print by Jacques Callot circa 1632, depicts the violent martyrdom of St. Simon, one of Jesus' apostles, in a dramatic and intensely lit scene.

Subject & Meaning

The print illustrates the biblical account of St. Simon's martyrdom, where he is killed on a raised platform surrounded by a crowd, with his belongings scattered below and a cross-flag flying above, overseen by a heavenly figure.

Technique & Style

Callot employed strong chiaroscuro, leveraging stark contrasts of light and dark to convey the urgency and intensity of the brutal scene, drawing the viewer's eye through the composition.

History & Provenance

Created around 1632, the print is part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.

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: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.