St Jerome 1710

Pieter van der Werff painted this image of St. Jerome, a key figure in the Catholic Church, sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Jerome is most known for translating the Bible into Latin, making scripture accessible to a wider audience. Here, we see Jerome in contemplation, surrounded by symbols of mortality and knowledge. The skull and hourglass serve as memento mori, reminders of the fleeting nature of life, a common theme in Dutch Golden Age painting. Jerome's placement in a cave, a space often associated with introspection and spiritual retreat, emphasizes his life of scholarship and devotion. But consider also what isn't shown: the complexities of translating across languages and cultures, the power dynamics inherent in interpreting sacred texts, and the very human struggle to reconcile faith with doubt. Van der Werff invites us to consider the weight of history, the search for meaning, and our own place in the narrative of belief.