Saint Jerome Hearing the Trumpet of the Last Judgement 1621

Editor: Here we have Ribera's "Saint Jerome Hearing the Trumpet of the Last Judgement," an etching rendered in ink. It feels quite stark. What do you make of Ribera's use of symbols here? Curator: Ribera’s Jerome exists within a visual language steeped in religious and philosophical thought. Jerome's aged, almost emaciated form is juxtaposed with symbols of mortality. The skull, the open book… these are not merely objects, but potent signifiers. Editor: Signifiers of what, exactly? Curator: Of the transitory nature of life versus the enduring power of scripture, and the inescapable call of divine judgment. Do you notice how Jerome's gaze is directed upward, toward the source of the trumpet's sound? Editor: Yes, almost a look of fearful anticipation. I never thought of it that way before. Thanks. Curator: The weight of symbolism, isn't it fascinating?