Saint Didacus c. 17th century

Curator: This is Jacques Callot’s “Saint Didacus,” a delicate etching residing in the Harvard Art Museums. The piece measures a mere 7.6 by 4.9 centimeters. Editor: It feels like a window into a dreamlike world. The stark lines create a sense of piety and humble solitude. Curator: Callot, active in the early 17th century, produced many prints circulated widely. This image participates in the visual veneration of Saint Didacus, depicting his humility and connection to the divine. Editor: The cross he holds is central, a symbol of faith, but also perhaps of suffering willingly embraced. The figures in the background, one kneeling, suggest miracles or acts of devotion attributed to Didacus. Curator: The distribution of prints like this reinforced the Catholic Reformation’s emphasis on individual piety and the importance of saints as intercessors. Editor: It’s interesting how Callot uses the landscape, the city in the distance, the grotto on the right, to frame Didacus’ spirituality. They are all symbols that reflect the saint's renunciation of worldly life. Curator: Indeed, and within the context of Callot's wider oeuvre, this print highlights the institutional functions of art during the period. Editor: A small image with a large symbolic footprint. Curator: Precisely, food for thought indeed.