Fragment van een tekening voorstellende de heilige Hieronymus

About this artwork

…; first recorded in the museum, 1953

Art Historical Context

**Fragment of a Drawing Depicting Saint Jerome** *Domenico Campagnola,. 1510–1564, Pen, 131 × 94 mm* Domenico Campagnola, prominent Venetian draughtsman and printmaker the early 16th century, crafted this delicate pen drawing fragment portraying Saint Jerome, the revered Church Father and scholar known for his translation of the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate). Active in Venice during the High Renaissance, Campagnola worked in the orbit of masters like Titian, whose influence is evident in his fluid, expressive line work. This small-scale piece, measuring just 13 x 9 cm, captures the saint in a moment of contemplation—likely amid his traditional desert hermitage with lion companion—highlighting Jerome's enduring role as a symbol of penance, study, and devotion in Christian art. Rendered in pen, the medium showcases Campagnola's mastery of intricate hatching and contour lines, techniques prized for their precision and tonal depth in preparatory sketches or autonomous studies. Such drawings were highly valued in Renaissance workshops for training apprentices and as models for engravings, reflecting Venice's vibrant market for portable, collectible works on paper. As a fragment, it invites us to ponder its original scope—perhaps part of a larger narrative scene—while underscoring the fragility of these intimate creations. First recorded in our collection in 1953, this artwork offers a window into 16th-century devotional imagery, blending technical virtuosity with spiritual depth. A testament to Campagnola's legacy in bridging drawing and printmaking, it reminds visitors of the Renaissance reverence for the handwritten line.

About the Artist

Domenico Campagnola · 1500–1564

Domenico Campagnola (c. 1500–1564), a Venetian Renaissance painter, engraver, and pioneering draftsman, was born around 1500, likely in Venice to German parents, and became a child prodigy under the tutelage of his adoptive father, Giulio Campagnola. Apprenticed to Giulio around 1507 in Venice, he mastered painting, drawing, engraving, and woodcutting from the esteemed Paduan engraver, whose stipp...