Saint Jerome
1401 to 1500
Medium
pen and brown ink
Dimensions
overall (diameter): 4.2 cm (1 5/8 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.5781
Art Historical Context
This delicate circular drawing of Saint Jerome, created by the anonymous artist known as Master C between 1401 and 1500, captures the revered scholar-saint in an intimate format measuring just over four centimeters in diameter. Executed in pen and brown ink, the work exemplifies the precision and economy of line that made this medium ideal for small-scale devotional images during the Renaissance. Such compact tondi were often designed for private contemplation, allowing collectors to carry or display them in personal settings. Saint Jerome, famous for his translation of the Bible into Latin, ...