Saint Jerome 1640

Curator: Ribera’s "Saint Jerome" at the Harvard Art Museums always makes me pause. The way he’s caught between earthly matters and a spiritual yearning… It’s quite moving, isn’t it? Editor: Immediately, I see the skull. It's a visual shorthand for mortality, a constant reminder within the image of life's fragility and the fleeting nature of earthly existence. It grounds all of Jerome's other symbols. Curator: Absolutely, and the composition is so striking! The red robe against the dark background, framing his frail, aged body... It's all very deliberate, very theatrical, almost like he's baring his soul. Editor: The red robe can also be seen as a signifier of martyrdom or sacrifice, which are important parts of the Saint Jerome story. Red is always so loaded. Curator: Yes, a life dedicated to God, and perhaps a little bit of earthly drama along the way! The humanity in his face, the intellectual fire in his eyes… Ribera really captured something special there. Editor: Indeed. The enduring power of symbols lies in their ability to speak across centuries. This Jerome is still speaking to us today.