St. Jerome
Purchased on the Belle da Costa Greene Fund with the assistance of the Fellows, 1963
Wearing the brimmed crimson hat and ermine-lined robes of a cardinal, Jerome holds a book while reaching down to pluck a thorn from the paw of a small lion. The book symbolizes, among abundant other writings, his translation of the Bible into Latin (known as the Vulgate). The story of Jerome's healing the lion was well known in medieval Europe and appears in the Golden Legend. The border takes the form of a trompe-l'oeil processional banner of purple fabric edged with red-and-blue striped cord. The rod holding the banner at the top has two small hands that dangle silver bells. It is also surmounted by a large gold cross, unfortunately trimmed, that may have been the head of a supporting staff.