St. Jerome in Penitence

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St. Jerome in Penitence

Artist Jan Lievens (Dutch, 1607-1674)

Dateabout 1631

DimensionsOverall: 9 15/16 x 8 3/8 in. (25.3 x 21.3 cm);
Sheet: 10 x 8 3/8 in. (25.3 x 21.3 cm)

MediumEtching

ClassificationPrints

Credit LineWilliam J. Hitchcock Fund in memory of Grace J. Hitchcock

Object number

1987.193

Not on View

Label TextSt. Jerome sits, head humbly bent in devotion to a crucifix he holds. Light radiates behind his head like a halo. A second light source illuminates the ground and the saint’s body. Quickly drawn etched lines convey a nervous energy in this print. There is confusion as to whether the scene is interior or exterior—a wall holds the saint’s cardinal hat and an hourglass, but a tree grows in the space. Jan Lievens was a contemporary of Rembrandt; indeed, the two artists studied with the same Dutch master, Pieter Lastman (see Lastman’s Judah and Tamar nearby), while sharing a studio in Leiden. Lievens was influenced by both Dutch and Flemish Baroque art and especially the work of Anthony van Dyck (see van Dyck’s portraits in this exhibition). Lievens last years were troubled by debt, not unlike Rembrandt, and he spent his remaining life wandering and alone.Exhibition HistoryTMA, The Dramatic Image: Baroque Prints of the 17th Century, February 25 - July 31, 2011.