Saint Jerome in the Wilderness 1525 - 1530

Nicolò Boldrini made this print, Saint Jerome in the Wilderness, sometime in the 16th century. During this time, Venice was a vibrant center for printmaking, allowing artists to disseminate images widely and engage with themes that resonated with the period's religious and intellectual preoccupations. Here, we see Saint Jerome, a figure known for his translation of the Bible into Latin, in a moment of penitence, set against a backdrop of untamed wilderness. Interestingly, lions populate this wild space, reflecting the legend of Jerome removing a thorn from a lion’s paw, after which the animal became his loyal companion. As Jerome was an important Church Father, the image reinforces the power of faith. Yet, look closely, and you may notice the sensuous rendering of the natural world, and the intimate, almost vulnerable depiction of Jerome himself. What does it mean to situate a figure of such scholarly and religious importance within the raw, unfiltered space of nature? Here, Boldrini is not merely illustrating a biblical story, but he's inviting us to reflect on the intersections of faith, intellect, and the human condition.