Open full image Pin

The Siege of La Rochelle [plate 6 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 6 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 busy battle scene spread across a wide landscape. Soldiers, ships, and buildings fill every corner, all drawn in sharp, precise lines. The terrain has rivers, hills, and roads, with tiny figures marching or fighting in groups. The artist packed in so much detail that it’s hard to follow one story—this was meant to show the chaos of war. Numbers mark different spots, like a map, but the focus is on the action. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Callot carved these crisp lines into metal.