Artwork
Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome is an ink print by the Baroque artist Pietro Rotari. It dates from 1725 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1725, this print presents Saint Jerome rendered in a combination of engraving and etching on laid paper. The work originates from the hand of Pietro Antonio Rotari, an Italian artist associated with the Baroque period. Though chiefly remembered for portraiture, Rotari applied his skill to this religious subject, producing a composition that aligns with the era’s devotional imagery.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays a solitary, bearded figure seated amid a rugged landscape, wrapped in a heavy fur mantle and hunched over a rock. He holds an open book on his lap, suggesting scholarly contemplation. The setting evokes the hermitic tradition linked to Saint Jerome, emphasizing themes of ascetic study and spiritual withdrawal that were common in Baroque iconography.
Technique & Style
The contrast between the dark linear marks and the slightly yellowed surface of the laid paper enhances the sense of depth and materiality.
Rotari employed fine, incisive lines to delineate the texture of fur, hair, and the surrounding scrubby vegetation. The contrast between the dark linear marks and the slightly yellowed surface of the laid paper enhances the sense of depth and materiality. The dual use of engraving for precise outlines and etching for tonal variation reflects the technical versatility typical of early eighteenth‑century printmaking.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in the Italian city of Verona, where Rotari was born and active. While the artist’s reputation rests largely on courtly portraiture, this religious work demonstrates his broader engagement with Baroque visual culture. The piece has survived in a condition that retains its original paper tone, offering insight into the material practices of the period’s print workshops.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pietro Antonio Rotari (30 September 1707 – 31 August 1762) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period.
