Saint Jerome in Prayer c. 17th century

Editor: This is Claude Mellan's "Saint Jerome in Prayer," housed here at Harvard. The somber scene depicts the saint amidst symbols of mortality and devotion. What meaning do you draw from these objects? Curator: The skull, of course, is a memento mori, a reminder of death's inevitability. The saint's gaunt physique and the crucifix before him speak to the Christian renunciation of worldly pleasures and his path to salvation. These objects trigger cultural memories of sacrifice. Editor: I never considered the physique as part of the symbolism. Curator: Consider, too, how light falls on his emaciated figure. Note how the artist makes visible the contrast between light and dark. What does that make you think about? Editor: It reminds me that Saint Jerome's story is a continuous source of reflection on the human condition. Curator: Indeed. The visual symbols create a cultural dialogue across time.