Open full image Pin

Accursio

Jacques Callot

1619

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Allegory

Dominant colour

Accursio is a 1619 ink by Jacques Callot, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques Callot
When & what style?: 1619 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white engraving shows a group of five people in a courtyard. A woman in a long dress stands near a man with his arms outstretched, as if he’s falling or being lowered. Another man in a hat watches from the side, while two others react with gestures—one pointing upward, the other looking concerned. Above them, a building with arched windows and a balcony frames a scene of figures in the sky, some floating or falling. The text below explains that a man named Accursio fell from a height but landed safely. The artist used fine lines and shading to create depth and movement, which was a big deal in this style. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like Callot made detailed prints with just a sharp tool and ink.