Saint Jerome in Penitence, in a Cave 1500 - 1538

Albrecht Altdorfer’s etching “Saint Jerome in Penitence, in a Cave” depicts the biblical figure in a state of intense prayer. Created between 1500 and 1538, the print shows Jerome kneeling before a crucifix, with a lion at his feet and a skull symbolizing mortality nearby. The rocky cave setting enhances the sense of isolation and solitude, emphasizing Jerome's commitment to a life of penance. Altdorfer's detailed rendering of the cave and its surroundings reflects the Northern Renaissance tradition of meticulous observation and realistic depiction, while the scene itself is a popular subject in religious art, highlighting the transformative power of faith.