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The Siege of La Rochelle [plate 11 of 16; set comprises 1952.8.97-112]

Jacques Callot

1630

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque History Painting

Dominant colour

The Siege of La Rochelle [plate 11 of 16; set comprises 1952.8.97-112] is a 1630 ink by Jacques Callot, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques Callot
When & what style?: 1630 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a chaotic battle at sea and on shore. Hundreds of ships with tangled masts and sails are scattered across the water, firing cannons. On land, soldiers clash near a fortified city, with smoke and explosions filling the air. The artist packed every inch with tiny details—look closely at the ships’ flags or the soldiers’ movements. This was made as a series of prints, not a single painting. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this carved images into metal plates.