Saint Jerome (Primary Title)
Saint Jerome with a Lion (Former Title)
Unknown (Artist)
This wooden sculpture presents Saint Jerome in ecclesiastical garb with a tame lion at his feet. The 4th-century saint is best remembered as the author of the Vulgate Bible, a Latin translation of Hebrew and Greek scriptures. Among his other accomplishments, Jerome received the title of cardinal at age twenty-nine; he is usually portrayed in traditional cardinal's dress. He is also often accompanied by a lion because he allegedly removed a thorn from a ferocious lion's paw, and, in response, thebeast devoted its life to the service of Jerome's monastery.
Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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