Supplicium sceleri Fraenum (The Punishments)

1629

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Supplicium sceleri Fraenum (The Punishments) is a 1629 by Jacques Callot, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques Callot
When & what style?: 1629 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This print shows a chaotic public square packed with people. In the center, a man is tied to a post while others watch from scaffolding or stand below. To the left, a group surrounds a cart where someone else is being punished. Buildings line the edges, and a tower looms on the right. The title at the top, *Supplicium sceleri Fraenum*, hints this scene isn’t just random violence—it’s a warning. The artist packed in tiny details, like the crowd’s mix of curiosity and fear. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and dark for drama.