A chiaroscuro woodcut depicting a solemn mass, reproduced from a drawing by Polidoro da Caravaggio by the comte de Caylus and Nicolas Le Sueur.

This print, titled 'La Messe', is a chiaroscuro woodcut executed by the comte de Caylus and Nicolas Le Sueur. It reproduces a drawing by the Italian Renaissance master Polidoro da Caravaggio, which was held in the collection of Pierre Crozat. The work depicts a solemn liturgical scene, with a priest officiating at an altar while a congregation gathers in a vaulted interior. The composition relies on the chiaroscuro technique, using varying tones of sepia and brown to create depth and volume through light and shadow rather than colour.

The comte de Caylus was a significant figure in eighteenth-century French art, known for his antiquarian interests and his efforts to document private collections through printmaking. This specific work forms part of the Recueil Crozat, a project intended to catalogue the finest drawings from the most prestigious French collections of the era. The collaboration with Nicolas Le Sueur, a specialist in the woodcut medium, allowed for the translation of Polidoro's fluid, expressive line work into a printed format that mimics the appearance of a wash drawing.

The figures are rendered with a focus on drapery and posture, reflecting the influence of the Italian High Renaissance. The priest stands at the left, elevated on steps, while the kneeling and standing congregants occupy the remaining space, creating a sense of crowded, quiet devotion. The architectural setting is suggested through simple lines, keeping the focus on the human interaction with the sacred ritual. This print offers a view into the eighteenth-century practice of collecting and reproducing Old Master drawings, a pursuit that shaped the aesthetic tastes of the Enlightenment period. The use of a monochromatic palette ensures that the focus remains on the draughtsmanship and the interplay of light across the figures.