Saint Barnabas c. 17th century

Editor: This small engraving, "Saint Barnabas" by Jacques Callot, depicts Barnabas's martyrdom. It's so tiny, yet so dramatic! What stories do you think Callot is trying to tell? Curator: Ah, a miniature stage of the macabre! Callot was a master of capturing the chaos of human events. The tightly packed composition almost amplifies the violence, doesn't it? See how Barnabas, despite the stoning, remains almost serene? It’s a powerful statement on faith. Editor: Serene is one word for it! I hadn't noticed that juxtaposition. So, it's less about the act of violence, and more about Barnabas's reaction to it? Curator: Exactly! Callot invites us to contemplate the contrast between earthly brutality and spiritual fortitude. It’s a tiny window into a much larger, eternal narrative. What do you make of the framing oval? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it, but that does create a sense of a contained, inevitable fate. Thanks, that’s given me a lot to consider.