Les Martyrs du Japon

Lot n° 158
Lieure 594   Meaume 155
First edition, first state (of 2).  A strong impression of Callot's famous depiction of the 26 Christian martyrs of Japan, produced on the occasion of their beatification. The martyrs are displayed on crosses, their sides pierced by a lance. In the foreground on the left is a man on a horse; to the right there are soldiers sitting in the shade. In the sky, cherubim are guided by St. John the Baptist, preparing palms and crows for the martyrs. In the left corner within the plate it is signed "Callot fec." Along the bottom margin it reads, "Le Pourtraict des premier 23 Martire mis en Croix par la predicaon. de la S. foy au Giappon | soubs l'Empe Taicosam en la Cite de Mongasachi, de lordre des freres mineurs Observantin de S. Francois."