Artwork
A Capucin Bringing Thanks of the King of Bavaria
A Capucin Bringing Thanks of the King of Bavaria is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1612 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1612 by the French baroque printmaker Jacques Callot, this work is an etching on laid paper that was later issued as a restrike. The image presents a solitary Capuchin monk kneeling in a modest interior, his brown habit contrasting with the sparse surroundings. The composition emphasizes the figure’s devotional posture and the quiet solemnity of the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a Capuchin friar, rendered in a moment of prayerful gratitude, presumably directed toward the King of Bavaria, as suggested by the title. The minimal setting strips away extraneous detail, focusing the viewer’s attention on the monk’s humble devotion and the personal nature of his thanks, reflecting the religious sensibilities of early‑17th‑century Europe.
Technique & Style
Callot employed the etching process, incising lines into a metal plate that were then transferred onto laid paper. His characteristic precision is evident in the delicate rendering of the monk’s habit and the subtle gradations of light within the austere space. The restrained line work aligns with Callot’s broader baroque practice of combining meticulous detail with narrative clarity.
History & Provenance
Originally produced in the early 1600s, the image was later reprinted as a restrike, indicating continued interest in the composition beyond its initial circulation. While the exact ownership trail is not fully documented, the work remains associated with Callot’s extensive oeuvre of over a thousand prints that recorded contemporary religious and courtly life.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacques Callot (French: ; c. 1592 – 1635) was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine. He is an important person in the development of the old master print. He made more than 1,400 etchings that…
Holy Family at supper
Restoration of the Aqueduct at Pisa
Restoration of the Aqueduct at Pisa
Square in Paris with Many Figures
Square in Paris with Many Figures
Horsemen Attacked by Robbers
HOW WILL A COVERED PART BE CORRECTED?HOW WIKA A COVERED HEART DEED CORRECTED?![Christ Walking on the Water [second plate], by Jacques Callot](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/jacques-callot--christ-walking-on-the-water-second-plate--2069f3bfe4cb2126-w320.webp)
Christ Walking on the Water [second plate]
![A Capucin bringing thanks of the King of Bavaria [recto], by Jacques Callot](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/jacques-callot--a-capucin-bringing-thanks-of-the-king-of-bavaria-recto--39ed030c08b9b2a7-w320.webp)
![The Envoy of Tuscany thanking the Queen [verso], by Jacques Callot](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/jacques-callot--the-envoy-of-tuscany-thanking-the-queen-verso--d1096c23bbbd576f-w320.webp)
