Even in his youth, Jacques Callot was a restless spirit. His hometown of Nancy was still an insignificant provincial town that still had its great heyday ahead of it. Twice he left his parents' home in order to be able to realize his dream of becoming an artist somewhere else. Remorsefully, he returned home each time and began an apprenticeship as a goldsmith. No sooner had this been completed than he was drawn to faraway Rome. He got a job with Philippe Thomassin, one of the most renowned engravers of his time, like Jacques Callot a migrant from the east of France. He learned quickly and much, but Rome was not the hub of the artistic world in the 17th century and he sought a new challenge in Florence. There he refined his etching technique in the workshops and studios of local masters Giulio Parigi and Antonio Tempestas.
No less a person than the legendary Cosimo II de' Medici encouraged the young talent from Nancy. Jacques Callot received an abundance of commissions from the famous princely house and earned very, very much money for the time. He was allowed to work completely freely and looked for his own motifs. He was particularly interested in the little people. He created scenes from the everyday life of the peasants from the surrounding area and the officials at the Medicis court. He dedicated numerous works to the actors and singers of the commedia dell'arte. After Cosimo's death, Jacques Callot was drawn back to his hometown of Nancy. The move from warm Italy to the sunless north seems to have weighed heavily on the artist at first. In the first period after his arrival, he did not create anything new, but merely produced new editions of his old motifs. It was to take two long years before he finally attracted attention at the court of the Lorraine duke Henry II. He documented the festivities at court in detailed etchings, created lifelike portraits of nobles, enchanting landscapes and milieu studies. Word of his talent spread, and both the French and Spanish royal families were among his clients in the years that followed. During that time, he also created probably his best-known and most famous etchings, which as Les misères de la guerre ( in German: Die Gräuel des Krieges) were to take a firm place in European art history.
Almost nothing is known about the personal life of the artist Jacques Callot. Whether he had affairs, was married and had children remains in the dark. Perhaps he was what today would be called a "nerd". A perfectionist who invented new etching tools, successfully sought out new printing techniques, and became completely absorbed in his vocation. The famous Rembrandt van Rijn collected many prints by Jacques Callot. The Dutch painter himself is considered a master of printmaking and admired the sophisticated work of his contemporary. In particular, the masterful depiction of perspectives and the distinctive light-dark depictions fascinate all experts to this day. Jacques Callot died at the age of only 43. Around 180 years later, the poet Ernst Theodor Amadeus (E-T.A.) Hoffmann created a literary monument to the artist he admired in his work "Fantasiestücke".
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_La_Luxure_(Lust)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1337474).jpg "The Seven Deadly Sins: Lust by Jacques Callot")
_La_Luxure_(Lust)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1337474).jpg)
_La_Gourmandise_(Gluttony)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1339128).jpg "The Seven Deadly Sins: Gluttony by Jacques Callot")
_La_Gourmandise_(Gluttony)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1339128).jpg)
_La_Colere_(Anger)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1330757).jpg "The Seven Deadly Sins: Anger by Jacques Callot")
_La_Colere_(Anger)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1330757).jpg)
_La_Paresse_(Sloth)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1334493).jpg "The Seven Deadly Sins: Sloth by Jacques Callot")
_La_Paresse_(Sloth)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1334493).jpg)
_L_-_(MeisterDrucke-1337426).jpg "The Seven Deadly Sins: L by Jacques Callot")
_L_-_(MeisterDrucke-1337426).jpg)
.jpg "The Fair at Impruneta by Jacques Callot")
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_L_-_(MeisterDrucke-1347839).jpg "The Seven Deadly Sins: L by Jacques Callot")
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_1631_-_(MeisterDrucke-674074).jpg "Saint Matthias from The Large Apostles, 1631 by Jacques Callot")
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_L_-_(MeisterDrucke-1340054).jpg "The Seven Deadly Sins: L by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Temptation of Saint Anthony by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Martyrdom of the Apostles: St. Matthias by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Burning Phoenix by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Soldier with Feathered Hat by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The temptation of Saint Anthony the Great. Painting by Jacques Callot by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Gian Fritello and Ciurlo, Figures from the Commedia dell")
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.jpg "The Strappado by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Strappado, plate 10 from")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1423326).jpg "Temptation of St Anthony by Jacques Callot")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1662834).jpg "Catafalque in Florence for Emperor Matthias by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "View of the Louvre by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Temptation of St. Anthony, c1615-1635 by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Adoration of the Virgin and Child by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Peasants")
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.jpg "The Miseries and Misfortunes of War - Set of 18 Etchings by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Saint Philip by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Savior by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Adoration of the Magi by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Re-embarkation of the Troops by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Cross-Section of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Entry of Monseigneur Henry de Lorraine, Marquis de Moy, under the Name of Pirandre by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Peasant Couple at Rest by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Large Miseries of War: Execution on the Wheel by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Lust by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Penitents: St. Francis by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Noble Man with Mantle Trimmed in Fur, Holding his Hands Behind his Back by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Gentleman with Cane by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Martyrdom of Saint Matthias by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Duel with Swords by Jacques Callot")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-668320).jpg "Balli di Sfessania (Neapolitanian dances) by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Greed by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Temptation of Saint Anthony by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Flagellation, no. 6 of 11 from La Petite Passion by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Death of the Virgin by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Hunchback with a Cane by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Exaltation of the Holy Cross; St. Aper; St. Euphemia; St. Lambert by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Martyrdom of Saint Philip by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Saint Basil Celebrating the Mass, 1608-1611 by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Strappado by Jacques Callot")
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_from_The_Miseries_of_War_-_(MeisterDrucke-908974).jpg "Pillage of a Farm, from")
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.jpg "The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew by Jacques Callot")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1662814).jpg "A General on Horseback by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Entry of Mm. de Vroncourt, Tyllon, and Marimont, from The Combat at the Barrier by Jacques Callot")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1080916).jpg "Fantastic rocks by the coast, buildings at the shore by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Saint Simon by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Large Miseries of War: The Battle by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Martyrdom of Saint Thaddeus by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Martyrdom of Saint Andrew by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Death by the Roadside, plate 16 from")
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.jpg "Man Playing a Grill as a Violin, from Varie Figure Gobbi by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Beggar with Crutches and Sack by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Marriage of Ferdinand de")
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_from_The_Miseries_of_War_-_(MeisterDrucke-1662942).jpg "The Hanging, from")
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.jpg "St. Job, Prophet, St. Gangulphus, St. Epiphanius, St. Mary of Martyrs by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Martyrdom of Saint Peter by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Plan and Elevation of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Plan of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Spadino by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Two Great Views of Paris: View of the Pont Neuf, 1628-1630 by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "St. Martin; St. Tryphon and Companions; St. Renatus; St. Didacus by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Large Miseries of War: Peasants")
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.jpg "The Temptation of St. Anthony by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Lady with Plumes, and Two Gentlemen, Probably 1634 by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Plan of the Church of the Holy Manger by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "One-Eyed Woman by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Beggars: Beggar Leaning on a Stick by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Saint John the Baptist by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Beggars: Blind Man with His Dog by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Hospital, plate 15 from The Miseries and Misfortunes of War, engraved by Israel Henriet by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Balli de Sfessania by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Beggar with Bare Head and Feet, c.1622 by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Officer with Feathers in Cap, Seen from Behind by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Noah")
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.jpg "The Beggars: The Beggar on Crutches, Wearing a Cap, c. 1623 by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Resurrection by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Martyrdom of Saint James Minor by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "St John Preaching in the Wilderness, c1620-1635 by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Wheel, plate 14 from")
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.jpg "St. Maria Gaudioru, St. Claudius, St. Norbert, St. Robert by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Wobbly Man Playing the Guitar by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Drinker Seen from the Front, from Varie Figure Gobbi by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Holy Trinity in the Tree of Life, Adored by Franciscans by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Peasant Woman with Basket on Head, Front View by Jacques Callot")
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_illustration_from_Les_Grandes_misres_de_la_guerre_(The_-_(MeisterDrucke-1448848).jpg "The Strapado, illustration from The Large Miseries of War by Jacques Callot")
_illustration_from_Les_Grandes_misres_de_la_guerre_(The_-_(MeisterDrucke-1448848).jpg)
.jpg "The Pillaging of an Inn, plate 4 from")
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.jpg "The Martyrdom of Saint John the Evangelist by Jacques Callot")
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_from_The_Miseries_of_War_-_(MeisterDrucke-898372).jpg "The Revenge of the Peasants, from")
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.jpg "The Birth of the Virgin, in or after 1630 by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "Christ Delivered to the Jews, no. 4 of 11 from La Petite Passion by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Tour de Nesle, the Grande Galerie and the Louvre, seen from Pont-Neuf, circa 1630, between 1625 and 1635 by Jacques Callot")
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.jpg "The Martyrdom of the Apostles: St. John the Evangelist by Jacques Callot")
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