The Virgin with Saints Jerome and Francis 1660 - 1680

This etching by Girolamo Rossi the Elder, created between 1660 and 1680, depicts the Virgin Mary, Saint Jerome, and Saint Francis. The Virgin is standing on a crescent moon, holding the Christ Child, while Saint Jerome kneels in adoration. The artist's use of chiaroscuro and dramatic foreshortening lend a sense of depth and realism to the composition. Saint Jerome is identified by his cardinal's robes and the lion, which is a symbol of his hermitage in the desert. This work is a testament to the artist's skill in capturing the devotional fervor of the Counter-Reformation.