Jacques Callot, Les Gobbi number 11 and 17, engravings, XVIIth century

These engravings are part of a series of 21 prints called "the gobbis". Numbered 11 and 19, they were published with the other 19 between 1620 and 1622. The latter represents a "gobbi", a character who influenced jacques callot during his trip to italy (florence) in 1616, which evokes the hunchbacks chosen to entertain grand duke cosimo II de medici. Number 11: "the dualist with two swords" he wears a typical italian outfit of the seventeenth century and carries two swords to achieve his performance (apparently already in motion). Number 19: "the man scratching the grill like a violin" the gobbi holds a grill - usually used as a metal kitchen utensil - to use as a violin to perform in front of grand duke cosimo de' medici. Dimensions: 3.54 X 2.75 inches. 10.23 X 7.87 with frame. Jacques callot was a draughtsman and engraver from lorraine of the seventeenth century. He is considered one of the masters of etching. His engravings are characterized by great sharpness and also deep inking. The scenes depicted are very abundant on rather small surfaces. He began an apprenticeship in rome in 1609. There he joined his friend israël henriet. There he met artists such as antonio tempesta, an aquafortist. He entered the studio of philippe thomassin, who taught him the technique of chisel engraving. At the end of 1611, he joined florence and received the protectorate of the medici. He made 15 of the 29 plates entrusted to antonio tempesta, where he experimented with etching. He then became the engraver of the festivities organized at the uffizi palace. From 1621, he returned to lorraine. He then published picturesque series based on his memories of italy, the bali and the gobbi. He also directed a series entitled les mendiants. He also began work on a series of 490 plates constituting the book of saints, published after his death. During this period, he also carried out a.

Ref. : TVCUS914