St. Jerome in Penitence

Texto del museo

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 the careful study and depiction of real plants. According to legend, after he aided a lion by pulling a thorn from its paw, it became Saint Jerome's permanent companion.

Descripción original del museo, en inglés. Licencia: CC0