Saint Jerome Extracting a Thorn from the Lion's Foot, 19th century reprint

"Saint Jerome Extracting a Thorn from the Lion's Foot, 19th century reprint" is an important example derived from the renowned graphic work of the German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer. The original composition, executed as a woodcut during Dürer’s most productive period between 1485 and 1528, illustrates one of the most famous legends associated with the ascetic scholar Saint Jerome, one of the four Doctors of the Church. The popularity of the original design necessitated later reproductions, such as this precisely rendered print dating from the 19th century.

The woodcut captures the legendary moment when the saint, traditionally depicted in his study surrounded by books and scholarly instruments, offers aid to an injured lion. The depiction of Saint Jerome removing the painful thorn is symbolic of compassion, humility, and the eventual loyalty of the wild creature, which became the saint’s constant companion.

Dürer’s original mastery of the woodcut technique allowed him to achieve complex tonal variation and textural detail, features faithfully retained in this later reprint. The high degree of detail in the line work ensures the continued appreciation of the Northern Renaissance style, which Dürer was instrumental in spreading through his vast output of prints. The accessibility provided by mass-produced prints ensured the widespread recognition of his iconography. This representation of the saint among his books underscores his identity as the translator of the Vulgate Bible.

This exemplary piece, classified as a print, is held within the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As the underlying Renaissance design is established firmly in the public domain, it remains a critical reference for studying graphic arts and sacred subjects.