Saint Jerome Extracting a Thorn from the Lion's Foot, Lyons, 1508 (copy)

"Saint Jerome Extracting a Thorn from the Lion's Foot, Lyons, 1508 (copy)" by Albrecht Dürer is a significant surviving example of Northern Renaissance printmaking, specifically utilizing the woodcut medium. While dated 1508, this particular impression is a later copy, testifying to the immense popularity and reproducible nature of Dürer’s designs throughout the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. The robust, graphic nature of the woodcut allowed this imagery to circulate widely, making Dürer one of the most influential graphic artists of his time.

The print illustrates the famous apocryphal tale of Saint Jerome, the Christian scholar traditionally credited with translating the Bible into Latin. Jerome is depicted ministering to a majestic Lion, carefully extracting a painful thorn from its paw. This central compassionate act establishes the bond between the saint and the beast, who subsequently becomes his loyal companion. The scene often includes prominent Books and writing implements, underscoring Jerome's dual identity as a penitent hermit and a revered Doctor of the Church.

Dürer's composition, even through the lens of a copy, emphasizes detail and structure, characteristic of the finest German prints produced between 1485 and 1528. The mastery of line and contrast in the woodcut technique allowed the artist to convey both the texture of the Lion's mane and the reflective quality of the saint’s robes. This important work, classified as a foundational example of Renaissance prints, is housed within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), offering insight into the enduring visual legacy of Saint Jerome iconography.