H. Hieronymus door een engel bezocht Possibly 1864

This print by Abram George Steelink depicts St. Jerome visited by an angel. The saint, often shown in his study or a desert landscape, is surrounded by potent symbols. Observe the skull, a memento mori reminding us of life’s brevity, a motif echoed through art history. The angel, a messenger of the divine, appears with a trumpet, heralding revelation. Note the lion, a symbol of strength, penitence, and Jerome's legendary act of removing a thorn from its paw, reflects the saint's transformation through faith. Consider how the skull has appeared across centuries, from vanitas paintings of the Dutch Golden Age to contemporary art. Its enduring presence speaks to a collective fascination with mortality. The visual language engages our subconscious, creating a powerful, emotional resonance. These symbols aren't linear; they resurface, evolve, and gather new layers of meaning. This cyclical pattern is a testament to their enduring power, a continuous dialogue between past and present.