St. Jerome in the Wilderness (S. Hieronymus in Deserto), from "The Large Landscapes" (ca. 1555–56, Met-Objekt 1961)
Original title: St. Jerome in the Wilderness (S. Hieronymus in Deserto), from "The Large Landscapes"
kurzbeschreibung
Made around 1555–56, Johannes van Doetecum I's print 'The Holy Jerome in the Wilderness' belongs to the series 'The Large Landscapes'. It combines etching and engraving. The image places Saint Jerome within an expansive landscape of trees, rocks, a castle and a river.
Description
Trees and rocks frame the foreground, giving the image a firm anchor. Behind them, a castle stands on a hill; rivers, hills and mountains step back in layers. A cloudy sky casts a muted light. Vegetation and water meet built accents—nature and architecture are closely interwoven.
Context
The series 'The Large Landscapes' was produced in the Netherlands in the mid-sixteenth century and published by Hieronymus Cock, a leading publisher of prints. Johannes van Doetecum I worked as an engraver and etcher for his press. Such landscape prints reflect the growing appreciation of landscape as a subject in the Renaissance.
Impact
Detailed nature and architectural touches combine into a quiet, contemplative mood. The cloudy sky gives the scene a melancholy air—a tone that suits Saint Jerome's retreat.
Technique
Etching and engraving were combined for this print. The sharp lines and precise rendering of the landscape are characteristic of the technique. The plate measures 33.5 x 42.9 cm, the sheet 34.8 x 45 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)