Saint Jerome
1763-64
Though Jean-Honoré Fragonard is best known for his playful, flirtatious Rococo scenes like 'The Swing,' this intense artwork shows a completely different side of the artist. Created around 1763, the piece channels the dramatic energy of Venetian masters he admired during his time in Italy. You can see Saint Jerome in the wilderness, his muscular body tense as he looks up to an angel, while a cherub floats in the swirling clouds above. The frantic, scratchy lines create a sense of spiritual turmoil that is a far cry from his usual silk dresses and garden romances, with a dark, furry mass at the bottom likely representing his loyal lion companion.
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