Saint Jerome in Penitence, in a Cave

1500·Wood engraving in black on cream laid paper·Image/block/sheet: 16.8 × 12 cm (6 5/8 × 4 3/4 in.)

<p>Albrecht Altdorfer’s sophisticated handling of woodcutting tools allows this relief image to appear almost three- dimensional. The shadows of the cave around the hermit Saint Jerome open gradually into ever-darker passages and spartan living quarters beyond. The saint, his protective lion companion, and the makeshift altar become the focal points for the light emanating from the entry to the cave on the right. Like Jerome, the viewer is situated in a literally and spiritually dark space within the tomb-like cavern.</p>

Catalogue

Year: 1500
Medium: Wood engraving in black on cream laid paper
Dimensions: Image/block/sheet: 16.8 × 12 cm (6 5/8 × 4 3/4 in.)
Collection: Art Institute of Chicago
Artist: Albrecht Altdorfer

Artist

Albrecht Altdorfer

Painting

Albrecht Altdorfer was a German painter, engraver and architect of the Renaissance working in Regensburg, Bavaria. Along with Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber he is regarded to be the main representative of the Danube School, setting biblical and historical subjects against landscape backgrounds of expressive colours. He is remarkable as one of the first artists to take an interest in landscape as an independent subject. As an artist also making small intricate engravings he is seen to belong to the Nuremberg Little Masters.

Regensburg, Germany

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