Saints Aquilla and Pricilla c. 17th century

Curator: This is Jacques Callot's "Saints Aquilla and Pricilla," a delicate etching measuring just a few inches. It resides in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels so intimate! The fine lines create a sense of quiet domesticity, despite the religious subject matter. Almost like a glimpse into a private moment. Curator: Exactly! Callot places these early Christian figures, known tentmakers, in the context of their labor. Priscilla sews, Aquila spreads canvas—activities rooted in their socio-economic reality. Their identities as early Christian missionaries were intertwined with their trade. Editor: And what about the figure in the background? He’s gesturing, holding what looks like a candle or torch. Curator: Tradition holds that Pricilla and Aquila guided Apollos, a Jewish Christian, and that figure is probably him. It really speaks to how early Christianity spread through networks of mentorship and shared labor, doesn't it? Editor: It does. It makes me think about the power of collaboration and shared skills, even today. Curator: A potent image of faith put into action, connected to the social fabric of the time. Editor: Indeed; the symbols are subtle, but their combined effect is quietly powerful.