“What’s with the skull?” Saturday’s Wall Street Journal had an article about Albrecht Duerer’s paintings, including “St. Jerome in His Study” from 1521. An old, bearded man is looking at you. He is St. Jerome, or supposed to be. In fact, he was a 91-year-old man of Antwerp whom Duerer contracted to sit as his model. Jerome looks right at you. Before him are books; Jerome was a scholar who translated the Bible into Latin. Next to the books, it’s the skull that intrigues me. I have a layman’s appreciation for art but depend upon experts to point me to art’s deeper meanings. Some armchair research guided my thoughts. The old biblical scholar’s index finger points my eyes to the skull, “memento mori,” “remember death.” “Even the wise die” (Psalm 49:10). And looming over the old man and skull, Duerer has painted a crucifix on the wall.
Sometimes I’m tired and don’t have the energy to read the Bible or devotional literature. Often in those times I turn the pages of an art book. “A picture is worth a thousand words” is true for devotion as well. Jesus’ parables are pictures, maybe we should say videos. Stained glass windows in churches present truths, helpful when sermon or service aren’t compelling your attention. One prayer asks that “Your Word not be bound,” and art helps answer that prayer.
Duerer’s painting recalls for me Psalm 49. “Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and he can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit. For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others” (5-10).
See the crucifix behind the old man pondering the Bible and pointing us to the skull? See the crucifix? “God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me” (15).
You can google “St. Jerome in His Study, 1521” to see this devotion yourself.
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