Saint Jerome in the Desert 1610

Lucas Kilian’s 1610 etching “Saint Jerome in the Desert” depicts the biblical scholar Saint Jerome in a dramatic pose, kneeling and looking up towards the sky, his body angled in a dynamic spiral. Jerome’s emaciated physique and wild, untamed beard convey his devotion to a life of austerity and solitude. The lion that accompanies him is a symbol of his taming of the wild and the dangers of the world. A skull and an open book allude to Jerome’s scholarly pursuits and his reflection on death. This print is a prime example of Northern European art's focus on realistic detail and the expressive use of light and shadow.