St. Jerome in the Wilderness (mid-16th century)
Original title: St. Jerome in the Wilderness
kurzbeschreibung
Saint Jerome sits in a rocky wilderness, surrounded by several lions. Nicolò Boldrini produced this scene as a woodcut in the mid-16th century. The monochrome print measures 38.8 × 54.1 cm.
Description
Several lions have settled on rocks in the foreground — some rest, others seem to be moving. In the middle ground, Jerome sits holding a book. Behind him, trees and rock faces are layered with densely set details. The hatching is fine and precisely drawn, and the light is distributed evenly, without harsh shadows.
Context
Boldrini, a 16th-century Venetian woodcutter, often drew on designs by Titian. The theme of Saint Jerome in the wilderness was highly popular in the Renaissance, combining ascetic withdrawal with life in nature. The presence of several lions here departs from the usual iconography, which typically features only one lion.
Impact
A quiet, almost devotional mood pervades the print, making a sense of harmony between man and animal palpable. The clear graphics of the print guide the eye calmly into the vast, desolate landscape.
Technique
To make the print, the design was cut into a woodblock and then pulled onto paper. The finest hatching and lines testify to great craftsmanship. The restriction to black and white is characteristic of this printmaking method.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)