Saint Jerome 1663

Gian Lorenzo Bernini carved this marble sculpture of Saint Jerome for the Duomo di Siena. Bernini was the preeminent sculptor in 17th-century Italy, and his virtuosity with this unforgiving material is evident. Look closely, and you can see how Bernini’s sharp chisels articulated muscle and bone with anatomical precision. Note the deep undercuts of the drapery, and the contrast with the highly polished skin. Bernini was masterful at creating a range of surface textures that convince us of reality. It’s important to remember that this wasn't simply the work of one artist. It involved a workshop of assistants, quarrymen extracting the marble, and transporters who brought it to Siena. The final result is a synthesis of artistic vision, skilled labor, and a complex economic system that supported it all. This blurring of art and craft is central to appreciating the full story of this sculpture.