Saint Jerome Praying in a Landscape. 1550 - 1560

Niccolò dell' Abate's "Saint Jerome Praying in a Landscape" (1550-1560) depicts the saint in a contemplative pose, kneeling in a landscape with a skull at his feet. This pen and brown ink drawing, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is characteristic of the artist's detailed style and the use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses light and shadow to create volume and depth. The drawing's small scale, measuring 8 3/8 x 6 9/16 in. (21.2 x 16.6 cm), allows for intimate viewing and a focus on the saint's emotional expression, reflecting a trend in the Renaissance of emphasizing the human experience in religious art. The landscape features a cityscape in the background, hinting at the earthly world that Saint Jerome has renounced for a life of prayer and contemplation.