St. Jerome Reading

Isaac Oliver

16th–17th century · Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and gray wash · Drawings and Prints

Oliver's father was a goldsmith and pewterer, who arrived in London 1568 as a Protestant refugee from Rouen, France. After studies with Nicholas Hilliard, Oliver made several Continental trips, became known internationally for painting miniatures and small histories, and was appointed by Queen Anne in 1605 as "Painter for the art of limning." This finely executed drawing uses pen and brown ink, and gray wash to describe the early theologian St. Jerome reading. The delicate stippling around the face is a miniaturist technique, and the work may have been made in preparation for a small-scale devotional painting.

Artist

Isaac Oliver

Date

16th–17th century

Medium

Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and gray wash

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Purchase, 2004