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Saint Jerome in Penitence, with Two Ships in a Harbor

Italian 15th Century

1490

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

Saint Jerome in Penitence, with Two Ships in a Harbor is a 1490 ink by Italian 15th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Italian 15th Century
When & what style?: 1490 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows a man kneeling on rocky ground, wrapped in a rough cloak, with a long beard and a halo behind his head. Behind him, two ships sit in a busy harbor, surrounded by buildings and cranes. Waves crash around the harbor, and a lion—often a symbol of strength—stands nearby, looking at the man. The artist used tiny lines to build up dark areas, making the scene feel textured and deep. This method is called cross-hatching. Next, look up technique: engraving, cross-hatching.

About the artist

Artist

Italian 15th Century

This anonymous Italian engraver from the 1490s carved images that could be peeled apart like paper dolls—each knot in the "First Knot" print was cut from a single sheet so you could lift the loops right off the page.

See the richer artist page