St. Jerome 1797

Curator: This is Jean-Jacques de Boissieu's "St. Jerome," an engraving dating back to 1797. What strikes you immediately? Editor: The starkness, even melancholy, really stands out. The fine lines capture Jerome’s aging body, perched outside what appears to be a humble, perhaps makeshift, abode. Curator: The landscape contributes so much to that atmosphere. We see how Boissieu used etching and drypoint techniques to vary the textures and line weights in the composition, drawing our eye from the dark foliage on the right to Jerome himself. Editor: I'm interested in how the setting itself underscores the themes of devotion and scholarly withdrawal. The stark landscape contrasts with the rich detail given to St. Jerome. There's a sense of internal retreat reflected in the external world, right? A rejection of worldly pleasures and the seeking of a raw existence devoted to translating and writing scripture? Curator: Yes, but Boissieu also presents Jerome engaged in an act of manual labor—he's actively working, holding what could be either a book or a stone tablet and carving it, with tools in hand. It merges intellectual pursuits with physical creation. The artistic labor is clearly highlighted. Editor: Absolutely. In considering his choices, I keep wondering about how much his portrayal of St. Jerome sought to critique or validate certain gendered positions within the Church at the time. The historical and religious weight certainly impacts our reading of it today. It cannot escape our interrogation! Curator: Right. Boissieu gives us both a landscape and a figure study here—it's an engraving but shares the sensibilities of history painting. There is a flattening that comes with reproduction, that the use of etching works towards preventing. Editor: Exactly, and acknowledging this work’s socio-political implications—considering how artistic patronage and institutions contributed to constructions of ideal masculinity and piety – invites a more critical viewing experience. Curator: Ultimately, what is impactful here is a depiction of devotion combined with tangible production that allows us insight into artistic practices in Boissieu’s era. Editor: It's the confluence of inner solitude and creative exertion presented with such delicate line work and composition choices that makes this St. Jerome compelling and ripe for contemporary dialogues.