St Jerome meditating on a skull 18th century

This 18th-century drawing, housed in the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, depicts Saint Jerome meditating on a skull, a common theme in art representing mortality and the ephemerality of life. The anonymous artist's skillful use of hatching and shading creates a sense of depth and volume, highlighting the muscular physique of Jerome and the textured fur of the lion at his side. The presence of the lion symbolizes Jerome's association with the wilderness, a place of solitude and spiritual reflection, while the skull serves as a memento mori, reminding him of his own mortality. The drawing's composition, with Jerome kneeling in contemplation, further emphasizes the theme of introspection and the search for spiritual truth.