Saint Jerome Penitent in the Wilderness (copy) 1485 - 1600

Albrecht Dürer’s “Saint Jerome Penitent in the Wilderness” is a masterful example of Northern Renaissance engraving. Created between 1485 and 1600, it depicts Saint Jerome, a prominent early Church Father, in a moment of solitude and reflection. The detailed depiction of Jerome’s emaciated form, the rocky wilderness, and a lion at his feet, emphasizes Jerome's self-imposed harshness as a way to achieve spiritual enlightenment. The composition’s strong diagonals and meticulously rendered details highlight Dürer’s technical mastery and the artistic style of the time. The artwork is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.