Saint Jerome and an Angel c. 17th century

Curator: Ribera's "Saint Jerome and an Angel," now at the Harvard Art Museums, presents us with a fascinating interplay of mortality and the divine. The etching captures Jerome in a moment of inspired contemplation. Editor: It strikes me as remarkably intimate. The angel hovering above, its trumpet a symbol of divine communication, feels less like a celestial announcement and more like a shared secret. Curator: Ribera masterfully uses the symbols here: the skull representing mortality, the lion signifying Jerome's taming of the beast, all within this small, personal scale. This work circulates hagiographic narratives but it also shapes the perception of holiness itself. Editor: And the textures! Look at the contrast between Jerome’s wrinkled skin and the angel’s smooth form, or the rough rocks versus the soft clouds. It’s a visual feast of symbolic layers. Curator: Absolutely. The image taps into the tradition of showing spiritual authority, but offers a surprisingly human moment. Editor: It’s a reminder that even within religious iconography, we find echoes of humanity.