St. Jerome in a Dark Chamber

Within the rich darkness of this print is St. Jerome—a scholar who explored good and evil—in prayerful meditation. The subject of the print could also be viewed as a study of the interplay between light and darkness, each full of religious symbolism, as they simultaneously reveal and conceal objects in this work. Though clear light enters the window, only a limited spectrum of darkened tones describes St. Jerome and his chamber. The effect envelops this work in psychological mystery as if we are peering not only into the innards of St. Jerome’s chamber, but also into the private chambers of his soul.

Indeed, the objects that surround St. Jerome reflect his inner spiritualism. Adjust your eyes to the darkness of this work to reveal its details: a large holy book; a skull upon a ledge, reminding one of the transience of life; a crucifix before the window, recalling Christ’s sacrifice; and a spiral staircase, symbolically linking the earth with the heavens.