Artwork
Nun Embracing the Holy Cross

Nun Embracing the Holy Cross is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1628 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Nun Embracing the Holy Cross is an etching on laid paper created by French artist Jacques Callot in 1628.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a robed woman, likely a nun, embracing a tall cross on a small patch of land near water, with a cityscape in the background. The simplicity of the scene belies a deliberate composition, with the woman's blurred face adding to the enigmatic nature of the image.
Technique & Style
Callot's etching technique allowed for detailed rendering of fabric folds and shadows, creating a sense of solidity in the scene. The use of lines to suggest texture and depth is characteristic of his style, which often combined detailed figures with expansive backgrounds.
Context
As part of Callot's extensive oeuvre of over 1,400 etchings, Nun Embracing the Holy Cross reflects his practice of documenting various aspects of 17th-century life, including religious subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacques Callot was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine.







![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)











