Saint Jerome
Medium
Etching on cream laid paper
Dimensions
Plate: 12.5 × 14.9 cm (4 15/16 × 5 7/8 in.); Sheet: 16.9 × 18.9 cm (6 11/16 × 7 1/2 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
149523
Art Historical Context
Jean-Jacques Lagrenée, prominent French Rococo artist active in the 18th century, captures the contemplative spirit of Saint Jerome in undated etching. Saint Jerome, the 4th-century Church Father for translating the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate), is timeless subject in Western art, often depicted in isolation or penitence. Lagrenée, known for his elegant, graceful figures influenced by the ornate Rococo style—characterized by fluidity, lightheartedness, and decorative finesse—brings a refined sensitivity to this religious icon, blending devotion with artistic poise. Rendered as an etching on...
About the Artist
Jean-Jacques Lagrenée (French) · 1739 –1821
French, Paris 1739–1821 Paris