H. Hieronymus 1676 - 1719

This engraving of Saint Jerome was created by Jacobus de Man, a Dutch artist who died in 1719. Here we find Saint Jerome kneeling on a cloud with a lion resting at his side. The lion, a symbol of strength and royalty, often accompanies Jerome, recalling the story of Jerome removing a thorn from the lion’s paw, thus taming the beast. Notice the stone in Jerome’s hand and the crucifix clutched to his chest. These symbols speak to Jerome’s asceticism and devotion. He flagellated himself with a stone as an act of penance. This act is rooted in the ancient human impulse to atone for unconscious guilt. The figure of Christ on the cross is a reminder of sacrifice, and resurrection and represents spiritual purification. Finally, in the upper-right corner, a trumpet appears to sound from the heavens. A symbol, perhaps, of Saint Jerome being called to heaven. Consider how, across time, similar motifs reappear, echoing through art history and taking on new layers of meaning with each iteration.