An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
St. Jerome in the Desertc. 1700
Artist: Circle of Paolo Pagani
Italian, 1661 - 1716
male figure kneeling on one knee, with a red drapery across his lap; long brown and white beard and hair; PL hand resting on a skull; PR hand holding a crucifix; faint halo; rather dark image
16 x 11 9/16 in. (40.64 x 29.37 cm) (sight)
22 3/4 x 18 1/8 in. (57.79 x 46.04 cm) (outer frame)
Oil on canvas
Painting
Italy
18th century
Gift of A. Richard and Martha R. Olson
In the dim light of a secluded cave nestled within the Syrian Desert, a figure contemplates the essence of existence. This figure is St. Jerome, a man shrouded in both devotion and introspection, captured by an unknown Italian artist whose brush reflects the echoes of history. The artwork draws from the famous 1602 engraving by Agostino Carracci, a piece that must have whispered inspiration into the artist’s ear.
Although the work carries the spirit of Bolognese art, reminiscent of Ludovico Carracci’s style, there’s an intriguing looseness to the portrayal of Jerome’s head—a tangible indication that this masterpiece likely emerged in the late 17th or early 18th century. Time, it seems, has wrapped this image in layers of thought as it traverses the ages.
St. Jerome is depicted in a moment of solitude—a choice he made in 378, choosing to retreat from the clamor of the world to delve into the depths of study and reflection. In his hands, he clutches a crucifix, a symbol of his unwavering devotion to Christ, while his other hand gently embraces a skull—a haunting memento mori that serves as a stark reminder of the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of earthly ambitions.
This juxtaposition in his grip—the sacred and the skeletal—encapsulates a profound truth. Amidst the barren landscape of the desert and the silence of the cave, Jerome immerses himself in the study of Hebrew, the language that will breathe life into his translations of the Old and New Testaments into Latin. In the stillness of his retreat, he becomes a bridge between the divine and humanity, sifting through the threads of spirituality and mortality.
In this sacred space, we find not just a man of faith, but an eternal seeker, wrestling with the complexities of life and legacy. Through the artistry of the unknown Italian hand, we witness a profound moment, inviting us to also reflect—on devotion, on life's transient nature, and on the stories that dwell within us all.
About the artist
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