Soldiers pillaging a village. Etching after J. Callot, ca. 1633.

The suite of eighteen prints entitled "Miseries and misfortunes of war" (Les misères et les malheurs de la guerre) in which soldiers are shown fighting, raping and pillaging and some are subsequently punished or gravely wounded and only few are rewarded for victory, was published by Callot's friend Israël Henriet in 1633

The soldiers descent on the village, killing the cattle and men that oppose them, take the children away from their parents, rape the women and set the houses on fire

[Amsterdam] : Leonardus Schenk, [1730]

1 print : etching, with engraving ; image 7.4 x 18.5 cm

Ceux qui Mars entrient de ses actes meschans ... Calot...Israel ex. Cum privil reg. Lettering continues in French underneath the print describing the event in verse Translation of the poem: Those whom Mars nourishes with is evil deeds, treat in this manner the poor country people. They take them prisoner, burn their villages and even wreak havoc on their livestock. Neither fear of the law, nor sense of duty, nor tears and cries can move them Bears number bottom right : 7

Jules Lieure, Jacques Callot, 8 vols, Paris 1924-1927, nos. 1339-1356

Wellcome Collection 44111i