Heilige Hieronymus als boeteling in woestijn 1500 - 1577

This anonymous 16th-century engraving, titled "Heilige Hieronymus als boeteling in woestijn", depicts Saint Jerome, a prominent figure in early Christianity, in his traditional role as a penitent in the desert. The composition shows Jerome kneeling in prayer, his hand resting on a human skull, a common symbol of mortality in Renaissance art. He is accompanied by a lion, an animal often associated with him in iconography. This small but detailed engraving from the Rijksmuseum collection, with its intricate lines and subtle shading, exemplifies the artistic skill of anonymous printmakers during this period.