Saint Jerome
c. 1631
Jan Georg van Vliet Dutch, c. 1610-after 1635
Holland
Jan Georg van Vliet was one of Rembrandt van Rijn’s first followers. Van Vliet was especially productive from 1630 to 1631, during which time he created approximately 40 engravings, including Saint Jerome. Saint Jerome is best known for his translation and revision of the Latin Bible, now known as the Vulgate. During a period of serious illness, Saint Jerome had a vision that led him to abandon his secular studies and live a hermetic life devoted to God. Here Van Vliet showed the saint deep in study, the Bible on the right alluding to his translation. The skull and cross, also on the right, symbolize his monastic life.
Etching on cream laid paper