Frontispiece for Callot's "The Mysteries of the Passion" c. 1631

This intricate engraving, created by French artist Abraham Bosse in 1631, serves as the frontispiece for Jacques Callot's "The Mysteries of the Passion". The design features a circular wreath of stylized leaves and flowers, interspersed with six medallions containing the "IHS" (a common monogram for Jesus Christ) and "MA" (for "Maria"). The inscription within the wreath reads "Variae tum Passionis Christi, tum vitae beatae Mariae Virginis" (Various Passions of Christ, and Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary) which clarifies the subject of the book. The intricate detail of the engraving and its symbolic elements contribute to its overall beauty and its historical significance.