Landschap met de boetvaardige Hiëronymus en drie rustende leeuwen c. 1663 - 1726

Editor: Here we have a print, an engraving to be precise, titled "Landscape with the Repentant Saint Jerome and Three Resting Lions" dating from about 1663 to 1726 by Moise Jean Baptiste Fouard. The stark contrast really creates a dramatic, almost theatrical mood. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, immediately the prominence of Saint Jerome draws the eye, kneeling near the left of the engraving. Yet, what truly resonates is the layered symbolism within the animals and landscape. Do you notice anything interesting about the lions, specifically their rest? Editor: I see the three lions relaxing, maybe one's sleeping? But what's striking is their calmness amidst such a rugged environment, almost as if they're tamed or at peace. How does that play into the cultural memory you mentioned? Curator: Precisely. The lion is a multifaceted symbol. Royal power, strength, but also, in the context of Saint Jerome, repentance and transformation. His act of removing a thorn from a lion's paw led to companionship. It signifies how even wild, formidable forces can be subdued by compassion and humility, resonating across cultures through stories and shared morals. Notice also that above Jerome is an image of a person flying or falling from the sky? Any ideas what this means in relationship to Jerome? Editor: Perhaps, his soul reaching enlightenment, and the lion helping guide his way. Curator: Precisely! Editor: It’s incredible how one image, through its symbolic language, can speak to shared human experiences of redemption and harmony. Curator: Indeed, revealing the enduring power of visual symbols to communicate across centuries.