Saint Jerome in His Study

Albrecht Dürer’s portrayal of Saint Jerome ranks among his greatest achievements in printmaking. Much of its appeal derives from the atmosphere of serenity that pervades the scene. The learned saint, best known for his Latin translation of the Bible, sits in the scholarly seclusion of his well-ordered study. Sunlight streams through the windows, bringing out variations in textures and creating subtle surface effects. Particularly striking and worthy of praise are the circular shadows cast on the windowsill.