St Jerome Reading

etching, 1634

St Jerome once helped a lion by removing a painful thorn from its paw, and is thus often depicted together with the animal. Here the creature looks like a strapping, misshapen cat, undoubtedly because Rembrandt at this point had never seen a real lion. He probably based his representation on (equally awkward) models in 16th-century prints.

  • Artwork typeprint
  • Object numberRP-P-1962-49
  • Dimensionsheight 108 mm x width 89 mm
  • Physical characteristicsets