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

Artist: Jacques Callot (French, 1592–1635)
Title: La Vie de l’Enfant prodigue (The Life of the Prodigal Son) — Six plates from the series of eleven
Date: 1635
Media/Technique: Etching (eau-forte) on laid paper
Dimensions: Each sheet c. 66 × 87 mm; image 53 × 83 mm
Publisher: Israël Henriet (French, 1590–1661) — Cum privilège Reg. Israel excudit)
References: Jules Lieure, Catalogue de l’œuvre gravé de Jacques Callot, nos. 1405–1409, 1412; vol. III, pp. 89-92, [LIB-3253.2023]. Mariette, Notes manuscrites (Cabinet des estampes, BnF), nos. 54–61; Meaume, Recherches sur la vie et les ouvrages de Jacques Callot (Nancy, 1860), nos. 54–61
State: Third and final state, 1635, with verses and numbering; impressions trimmed to narrow margins
Note: A complete set of the twelve plates from La Petite Passion (The Little Passion) is held in this collection, see SVE-0655.2025

Plates present in the set

1. Le Partage des biens, appelée aussi L’Enfant prodigue reçoit sa part d’héritage

• Lieure 1405; Mariette 54; Meaume 54
• Inscription: Un Pere que les ans accablent de douleurs, | Comblant son fils de biens, le comble de malheurs. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excudit
• Translation: A father, weighed down by years of sorrow, / By heaping riches upon his son, heaps on him misery.
• Numbered “1” lower right

1. Les Adieux, appelée aussi L’Enfant prodigue quitte la maison paternelle; Meaume l’intitule Il part pour Memphis

• Lieure 1406; Mariette 55; Meaume 55
• Inscription: Ce partement soudain sert comme de presage, | Que le calme trop grand est suiuy de l’orage. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excū
• Translation: This sudden departure serves as an omen, / That too great a calm is followed by the storm. 
• Numbered “2” lower right

1. L’Enfant prodigue dissipe son bien

• Lieure 1407; Mariette 56; Meaume 56
• Inscription: Dans les charmes du vin et de la volupté, | Ce prodigue se perd en sa brutalité. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excudit
• Translation: In the charms of wine and pleasure, / The prodigal is lost in his brutishness.
• Numbered “3” lower right

1. L’Enfant prodigue est ruiné

• Lieure 1408; Mariette 57; Meaume 57
• Inscription: Il devient le jouet des impudiques femmes, | Apres s’estre saoulé de ses plaisirs infames. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excū
• Translation: He becomes the plaything of shameless women, / After having drunk his fill of infamous pleasures.
• Numbered “4” lower right

1. L’Enfant prodigue garde des pourceaux

• Lieure 1409; Mariette 58; Meaume 58
• Inscription: Celuy qui desdaignoit les plus friands morceaux, | Se va nourrir de glands destinez aux pourceaux. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excū
• Translation: He who disdained the choicest morsels, / Goes to feed on acorns destined for swine.
• Numbered “5” lower right

1. On tue le veau gras (The Killing of the fatted calf)

• Lieure 1412; Mariette 61; Meaume 61
• Inscription: Le Pere à ce retour fait tuer le Veau gras, | N’espargnant pour son fils nÿ ses soings nÿ ses bras. | Cum privilège Reg. Israel excū
• Translation: The father, at this return, has the fatted calf killed, / Sparing neither his care nor his arms for his son.
• Numbered “8” lower right