Saint Jerome in His Study

Saint Jerome in His Study is a masterful copperplate engraving created by Albrecht Dürer in 1514. This print stands as one of Dürer's three "Master Engravings," alongside Melencolia I and Knight, Death, and the Devil, demonstrating the Northern Renaissance artist’s unparalleled technical command of the print medium. The precise detail achieved through the arduous engraving process allowed Dürer to render complex textures and minute shifts in light, pushing the boundaries of graphic arts at the time.

The composition depicts Saint Jerome, the scholar and translator of the Latin Vulgate, deeply immersed in the act of writing within a perfectly rendered interior setting. The light streaming through the circular window highlights the scholarly atmosphere and the meticulous organization of the study, filled with scrolls, books, and various scholarly apparatus. In the immediate foreground, symbolic companions rest peacefully: a docile lion, traditionally associated with the Saint after he removed a thorn from its paw, and a small, sleeping dog, often interpreted as a symbol of fidelity.

Dürer’s focus on perspective and light creates a sense of serene, focused contemplation, capturing the essence of scholarly piety. The original production of these prints facilitated wide circulation across Europe, cementing Dürer’s reputation as a leading figure in European art. This superb impression of Saint Jerome in His Study is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of the work's age and enduring importance, detailed reproductions of Dürer’s print are frequently found in public domain archives, making this historic engraving accessible worldwide.