Madonna of Saint Jerome 1764 - 1766

Matthew Pratt created this oil on canvas painting titled "Madonna of Saint Jerome". Observe the figure of Saint Jerome with his constant companion, the lion. This lion isn't merely a beast but a symbol resonating through history. It hearkens back to tales of early desert monks, connecting Jerome to a lineage of devotion and scholarship. The image can also trigger a primal response: the lion, a symbol of power, tamed by faith. Now, consider the book or scroll held by figures within the painting. It signifies knowledge, wisdom, and the transmission of ideas across generations. This motif has roots in ancient libraries and classical learning, later adopted by Christianity to symbolize divine wisdom. But it's not static. The book, once a revolutionary technology, now exists alongside digital scrolls. These symbols, repeated and reinterpreted, engage us on a subconscious level. The cycle continues as we, too, breathe new life into these age-old motifs.