Who painted Plan of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary?

Plan of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary was painted by Jacques Callot in 1619.

Where can I see Plan of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary?

Plan of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Plan of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary?

Plan of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Plan of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary?

Museum-quality prints of Plan of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Plan of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary

Jacques Callot , 1619

Plan of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1619 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Jacques Callot, a French printmaker active in the early seventeenth century, produced a detailed plan of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary in 1619. Executed as a combined etching and engraving on laid paper, the work presents a precise, bird’s‑eye view of the sacred complex, marked with architectural divisions, numbered rooms, and a compass rose.

Subject & Meaning

The image functions as a topographical diagram of the Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, illustrating the layout of the tomb, surrounding chambers, and the hill traditionally identified as Calvary. By rendering the sacred architecture in a measured, almost technical manner, Callot offers a visual guide that reflects contemporary devotional interest in pilgrimage and the spatial organization of holy places.

Technique & Style

Callot employed fine, intersecting lines typical of Baroque printmaking to delineate walls, stairways, and doorways, integrating both etching’s fluidity and engraving’s crispness. The use of laid paper provides a subtle texture that enhances the contrast of the black‑and‑white drawing, while the inclusion of a compass rose and numeric labels underscores the work’s cartographic intent.

History & Provenance

The plan belongs to Callot’s prolific output of more than 1,400 prints, a corpus that recorded everyday life, religious subjects, and landscapes. This particular sheet is a restrike, indicating that the plate was reused after the initial impression, a common practice that extended the circulation of his detailed designs.

Context

Created during the Baroque period, the print reflects the era’s fascination with detailed, scientific representation of space. Such plans were valuable to pilgrims, scholars, and collectors who sought accurate visual information about sacred sites, aligning with broader European interests in travel literature and antiquarian studies.

Plan of the Church of the Holy Manger, Jacques Callot

Own this work as a print

Artist & collection

Artist

Jacques Callot

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…