Italy, Florence or Northern Italy, 15th century / c. 1480–1500
Saint Jerome in Penitence
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Saint Jerome in Penitence as print (Italy, Florence or Northern Italy, 15th century · c. 1480–1500).
The rock in Saint Jerome's hand was used by the saint to beat his chest when he experienced hallucinations brought on by his isolation in the desert.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this print as engraving.
The museum's collection notes: In this inhospitable landscape, Saint Jerome appears strong and sure, praying toward a crucifix and holding a rock to beat his chest. Jerome retreated to the desert near Antioch (present-day Turkey) for four years to purify his soul through physical suffering. The cardinal’s hat and book refer to his later work translating the Bible into Latin, and the lion was his companion after he pulled a thorn from its paw. A tree holding a crucifix with a skull at its base refers to Christ’s cross and to Eden. The man at left may be a traveling friar begging for sustenance.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtSaint Jerome in PenitenceOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.