Jacques Callot after Matteo Rosselli. Capture of the City of Bone, from The Life of Ferdinand I de'Medici / Engraving, 1614–1620.

Artist (engraver): Jacques Callot (French, 1592–1635)
After: Matteo Rosselli (Italian, 1578–1650) Conception: Bernardino Poccetti (Italian, 1548–1612)
Title: Prise de la Ville de Bone (Capture of the City of Bone) (Assalto di una fortezza fatto da Cavalieri di S. Stefano)
Series/Portfolio: La Vie de Ferdinand I^er de Médicis (The Life of Ferdinand I de’ Medici, also called Les Batailles des Médicis / The Medici Battles)
Date: 1614–1620
Medium: Burin engraving on laid paper; first state of two (Lieure)
Dimensions: Sheet 246 × 325 mm; platemark 224 × 300 mm; image 186 × 294 mm

Description: Scene of the Tuscan fleet and troops under Grand Duke Ferdinand I capturing the city of Bona (Annaba, Algeria). In the left foreground, an officer in classical armour, baton in hand, leads his soldiers toward the fortress; behind him are grouped troops in helmets and cuirasses. On the right, soldiers fire on the Ottoman defenders while others climb scaling ladders against the city wall. In the background, galleys are visible at sea and fortified towers rise above the battlements.

Note: The series La Vie de Ferdinand Ier de Médicis was originally conceived by Bernardino Poccetti (1548–1612). After his death, Matteo Rosselli supplied the designs, which were then engraved by Jacques Callot. The descriptive Italian title “Assalto di una fortezza fatto da Cavalieri di S. Stefano” appears in the British Museum catalogue; the standard French title “Prise de la Ville de Bone” follows Lieure.

References:

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, accession no. 40.52.11

• British Museum, London, accession no. 1861,0713.741