Sts Jerome and Charles Borromeo kneeling at an altar 17th century

This pen and brown ink drawing depicts Saints Jerome and Charles Borromeo kneeling at an altar, and was created by the Venetian artist, Jacopo Palma, also known as il Giovane. Palma was working during the Counter-Reformation, a period of Catholic revival. The Catholic Church was responding to the rise of Protestantism with renewed emphasis on religious devotion. Saints Jerome and Charles Borromeo were important figures of this movement, the former for his translation of the Bible, and the latter for his reform of the Church in Milan. Palma's image would have been made for a Church commission. The humble pose of the figures expresses piety, and their presence promotes the idea of ​​prayer, reflection, and penance. This drawing is a powerful example of the public role of art in the service of religious institutions. To understand this drawing fully, we might turn to letters, diaries, and financial records from the period. These resources will help us learn more about the religious context of the time, and Jacopo Palma's place within it.