Artwork
Saint Jerome in a Landscape
Saint Jerome in a Landscape is a drawing by the Renaissance artist Domenico Campagnola. It dates from 1530 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Saint Jerome in a Landscape is a drawing by Domenico Campagnola, characterized by a prominent landscape and a figure of Saint Jerome in contemplation.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts Saint Jerome, a hermit saint, sitting in a landscape, lost in thought. The natural surroundings, with rolling hills and distant vistas, underscore the spiritual connection between the saint and the environment.
Technique & Style
The work showcases Campagnola's distinctive linear style, with light, quick lines that convey a sense of spontaneity. The landscape is rendered in detail, with rustic houses and tree groves, while the saint is integrated into the scenery.
Context
This drawing represents an early example of a landscape-centric artwork, where the natural environment takes precedence over the figure. It reflects the emerging category of independent drawings as autonomous works of art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Domenico Campagnola (c. 1500–1564) was an Italian painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut of the Venetian Renaissance, but whose most influential works were his drawings of landscapes.
