De H. Hieronymus gedragen door drie engelen c. 1577 - 1634

Curator: Here, we’re looking at “De H. Hieronymus gedragen door drie engelen,” dating from approximately 1577 to 1634. This ink intaglio engraving is attributed to Cornelis Cort, and resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Woah, that’s intense! The scene feels both incredibly heavy and ethereally light, all at once. I can't put my finger on it, but the somber, earthy tones juxtapose the floating angels and figures. A curious, potent mixture of the corporeal and spiritual, wouldn’t you say? Curator: Indeed. Note how Cort uses intricate line work to delineate form, focusing on contrasting areas of light and shadow. Observe how the body of St. Jerome is supported, almost floating. See the complex use of Mannerist devices—elongated limbs and stylized poses drawing your eye up to the center of the scene. The density of marks, coupled with open spaces, serves a twofold effect here. Editor: Right, it's this beautiful paradox; grounded by the earth and lions at his feet but buoyed towards some sublime elsewhere. To me, Jerome looks weary, at the end of himself. The angels appear almost burdened themselves, struggling under the weight of not just his body, but his knowledge, his penance, his holiness! Curator: That interpretation aligns nicely. The allegorical element positions St. Jerome—patron saint of scholars—on the precipice of transcendence. A potent emblem of the rewards associated with rigorous study and a life dedicated to devout pursuits. It is worth observing, the allegorical structure functions as an emblem of redemption in print. Editor: It makes you wonder, doesn’t it, at what point the weight of wisdom transforms into something akin to a physical burden? As though enlightenment extracts a tangible toll. You almost hear those angelic wings creaking, and can't but ponder the weight. Curator: Yes, and such tensions generate nuanced readings, inviting introspection concerning virtue and sacrifice in scholarly devotion. Editor: Looking closer, the detail on those lions really resonates too. Those cats exude such solemn, loyal energy. Cort, the artist, definitely pulls together disparate parts that all still work, despite that tug-of-war effect. The density is captivating. Curator: Certainly. This engraving offers fertile ground for considering the intersections of spiritual narrative, compositional rigor, and material execution. Editor: Absolutely. For me, Cort’s composition evokes the very human paradox that is, carrying our cumulative selves across whatever terrain lies before us, both blessed and heavy as we find ourselves floating between worlds.