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The Siege of La Rochelle: Plate 12

Jacques Callot

1629

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Baroque Baroque History Painting

Dominant colour

The Siege of La Rochelle: Plate 12 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 busy battle scene with soldiers marching in tight rows along a narrow strip of land. In the foreground, three large ships with tall masts and flags sail close to shore, while cannons and tents dot the background. The land is drawn with sharp lines, showing fields, walls, and small groups of people scattered across the area. Notice how the artist used only black lines and shading to create depth—no colors at all. This makes the scene feel dramatic and full of movement, even though it’s just ink on paper. If you like this style, look up chiaroscuro next to see how artists used light and shadow in other works.