St. Jerome in Penitence
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
image: 32 × 22.5 cm · sheet: 32 × 22.5 cm
Classification
Department
Prints
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Prasse Collection, fiftieth anniversary gift
Accession Number
1966.175
Tags
About this artwork
This print shows Albrecht Dürer’s interpretation of Saint Jerome in the wilderness. In this image, the saint is a gaunt penitent who kneels in front of a small crucifix placed on top of a tree stump (a reference to Christ’s cross and the tree of knowledge), while holding a rock in his right hand. Jerome was said to have beat his chest with a rock to alleviate his frequent hallucinations. Dürer included several different plant species, all Northern European in origin, displaying his dedication to...