Saint Jerome in the Wilderness 1600 - 1700

This is an ink drawing depicting Saint Jerome in the Wilderness, made by an anonymous artist. The image presents us with a fascinating glimpse into the cultural and religious landscape of its time, likely the 16th or 17th century. Jerome was a popular subject of art as he translated the Bible into Latin. The image draws on well-known visual codes of the time, such as a skull to signal mortality, and an angel to signal divine intervention. But, unlike other images of Jerome, this one includes a lion, to show the popular belief that he tamed a wild lion in the desert. We can better understand this work by consulting medieval bestiaries to find out more about the symbolism of lions and deserts within the religious imagination. Art historians also look to the patronage system of the time in order to find out more about the image's function. Art is always contingent on the social and institutional context in which it was made.