Saint Jerome kneeling on a rock in front of a cross and an open book facing right, after Reni
ca. 1600–40
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 7 3/8 in. × 5 in. (18.8 × 12.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.501.5057
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate etching captures Saint Jerome, the revered 4th-century Church and scholar who translated the Bible into Latinthe Vulgate), in a moment of profound devotion. Kneeling on a rocky outcrop before a towering cross and an open booksymbols of his penitence, scholarly life, and redemption—the saint faces right in quiet contemplation. Created anonymously in the 17th century Guido Reni, the eminent Bolognese Baroque master known for his graceful, Raphael-inspired figures and dramatic chiaroscuro, this print faithfully echoes Reni's elegant style, blending classical poise with emotional int...
About the Artist
Guido Reni|Anonymous, 17th century · 1575–1642
Guido Reni (1575–1642) was one of the most celebrated Italian painters of the Baroque era and the dominant figure of the Bolognese School. Born into a family of musicians in Bologna, he trained first with Denys Calvaert before joining the influential Accademia degli Incamminati led by Ludovico Carracci. Reni achieved international fame through his idealizing style that combined Baroque dynamism wi...