Saint Celestinus c. 17th century

Editor: This etching is Jacques Callot's "Saint Celestinus." The figure is centered and appears to be on display, like a monarch. What's your reading of this? Curator: Consider the Counter-Reformation context. Callot, though working under court patronage, participates in visually reinforcing papal authority amidst religious and political upheaval. How does this scale, its deliberate containment within the oval, amplify that tension? Editor: The small scale emphasizes precision while making the figure seem even more imposing. I see how that tension reflects its time! Curator: Precisely. And who is the intended audience? How does Callot use visual language to shape their understanding of power and faith?