Saint Jerome in Penitence c. 1602

Agostino Carracci's "Saint Jerome in Penitence" is a powerful etching created in 1602, just a year before the artist's death. It portrays the influential 4th-century scholar and theologian Saint Jerome in a state of deep contemplation and self-reflection. The composition focuses on Jerome's muscular physique, rendered with meticulous detail, as he kneels in the wilderness, his gaze directed upwards. The presence of a lion, a symbol associated with Jerome, further enhances the sense of solitude and introspection. This artwork showcases Carracci's masterful use of light and shadow to create depth and volume, revealing his expertise in the art of drawing.