Saint Jerome
n.d.
Medium
Pen and brown ink, with brush and brown wash, with graphite, on ivory laid paper, laid down on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
16.3 × 11.8 cm (6 7/16 × 4 11/16 in.)
Classification
pen and ink drawings
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
95675
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings collection, this intimate drawing of *Saint Jerome* captivates with its delicate execution in pen and brown ink, enhanced by brush and brown wash, and subtle graphite underdrawing on ivory laid paper. Measuring just 16.3 × 11.8 cm, its small scale suggests it may have been a personal devotional study or preparatory sketch, typical of European workshops from the Renaissance through the Baroque era. Saint Jerome, the 4th-century scholar and hermit who translated the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate), is a timeless figure in Christian ar...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...