Jacques Callot. La Vie de l’Enfant Prodigue (The Life of the Prodigal Son) / Etching, 1635. (Full suite)

Artist: Jacques Callot (French, 1592–1635)
Date: 1635
Media/Technique: Etching (eau-forte) on laid paper
Dimensions: Each sheet c. 65 × 84 mm; image c. 53 × 83 mm; margins c. 1 mm
Publisher: Israël Henriet (French, 1590–1661) — Cum privilège Reg. Israel excudit)
Catalogue Raisonné: Jules Lieure, Catalogue de l’œuvre gravé de Jacques Callot, nos. 1404–1414; vol. III, pp. 89-92, [LIB-3253.2023]. Mariette, Notes manuscrites (Cabinet des estampes, BnF), nos. 53–63. Meaume, Recherches sur la vie et les ouvrages de Jacques Callot (Nancy, 1860), nos. 53–63.
State: Second state, with verses but before numbers

1404. Frontispice (engraved title):
— LA VIE DE L’EN= | FANT PRODIGVE | Faite par noble J. CALLOT, | Et mise en Lumiere Par | ISRAEL son amy, | DEDIEÉ. | A Monseigneur ARMAND | de MAILLE, Marquis de | BREZÉ, Maistre de Camp | d’un, Regiment, | 1635 | Cum priuilege Reg. Israel cūdit ||
— The Life of the Prodigal Son. Made by the noble J. Callot, and brought to light by Israel, his friend. Dedicated to Monseigneur Armand de Maillé, Marquis de Brézé, maître de camp of a regiment. 1635. With royal privilege. Israel published it.

1405. Le Partage des biens (dit aussi L’Enfant prodigue reçoit sa part d’héritage)
— Un Pere que les ans accablent de douleurs, | Comblant son fils de biens, le comble de malheurs. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excudit
— The Division of the Property (also: The Prodigal Son Receives His Share of the Inheritance). A father, weighed down by years of sorrow, / by heaping riches upon his son, heaps misery on him.
For this plate in the 3rd state, see SVE-0626.2025.

1406. Le Départ (Le Fils prodigue quitte la maison)
— Ce partement soudain sert comme de presage, | Que le calme trop grand est suyvi de l’orage. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excū
— The Departure (The Prodigal Son Leaves Home). This sudden departure serves as an omen / that too great a calm is followed by a storm.
For this plate in the 3rd state, see SVE-0626.2025.

1407. Le Festin (Le Prodigue au festin)
— Dans les charmes du vin et de la volupté | Ce prodigue se perd en sa brutalité. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excudit
— The Banquet (The Prodigal at the Feast). Amid the charms of wine and pleasure, / the prodigal loses himself in brutishness.
For this plate in the 3rd state, see SVE-0626.2025.

1408. Avec les courtisanes (dit aussi L’Enfant prodigue est ruiné)
— Il devient le jouet des impudiques femmes, | Après s’estre saoulé de ses plaisirs infames. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excu
— With the Courtesans (also: The Prodigal Is Ruined). He becomes the plaything of immodest women, / after drunkenly indulging in infamous pleasures.
For this plate in the 3rd state, see SVE-0626.2025.

1409. Le Prodigue gardant les pourceaux
— Celuy qui dédaignoit les plus friands morceaux, | Se va nourrir des glands destinez aux pourceaux. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excū
— The Prodigal Tending the Swine. He who once disdained the choicest morsels / goes to feed on acorns meant for swine.
For this plate in the 3rd state, see SVE-0626.2025.

1410. Le Prodigue implore la miséricorde divine
— Haussant les yeux au Ciel aux cris il s’abandonne, | Et reclame son pere affin qu’il luy pardonne. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excudit.
— The Prodigal Implores Divine Mercy. Lifting his eyes to Heaven, he yields himself to cries / and calls upon his father that he forgive him.

1411. Le Père embrasse son fils (Le Retour / L’Accueil)
— Affligé de le voir de misere transy, | Ce bon vieillard l’embrasse, et le prend à mercy. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excudit
— The Father Embraces His Son (The Return / The Welcome). Grieved to see him numbed by misery, / the good old man embraces him and takes him in mercy.

1412. Le Veau gras (Le Festin du retour)
— Le Pere à ce retour fait tuer le veau gras, | N’espargnant pour son fils ny ses soings ny ses bras. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excū
— The Fatted Calf (The Homecoming Feast). At his return the father has the fatted calf killed, / sparing for his son neither care nor effort.
For this plate in the 3rd state, see SVE-0626.2025.

1413. L’Enfant prodigue est équipé de nouveau
— Si tost qu’il entre au port au sortir du naufrage; | On le traicte, on l’habille, on fait son equipage. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excū
— The Prodigal Is Fitted Out Anew. As soon as he comes into harbour after shipwreck, / they look after him, clothe him, and fit him out.

1414. La Musique au festin (La joie du retour)
— Pour le mieux resjouir, au festin magnifique | Que son Pere luy fait, est jointe la musique. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excū
— Music at the Feast (The Joy of the Return). To heighten his rejoicing at the magnificent feast / his father gives him, music is added.