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Nightingale in a Bush

Jacques Callot

1628

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque

Dominant colour

Nightingale in a Bush is a 1628 ink by Jacques Callot, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques Callot
When & what style?: 1628 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This drawing shows a small bird perched on a twisted tree branch. The tree sits on a rocky shore, with a calm body of water below and a distant hill or building in the background. The sky is light, with wispy clouds, and the whole scene is drawn in simple, clean lines. The bird looks like a nightingale, which was often linked to music and nature in art. The artist used a technique that lets ink sit in scratched lines, creating a soft, detailed look. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Callot made prints like this.