Saint Jerome in the Wilderness, holding a Crucifix in his left hand, as well as a book, and with his lion, a skull, and an hourglass at right
Giuseppe Scolari Italian
Not on view
Scolari was one of a few early artists who designed and cut his own woodblocks. His method of carving was truly original, as he used a graverlike tool to create fine white lines against a black background. He deployed a more conventional blockcutter’s knife to execute the bolder parts of the composition, cutting away the areas around the lines. Scolari’s avoidance of cross-hatching and use of rich, sinuous strokes allowed him to achieve a fluidity and expressive force hitherto unseen in the woodcut medium. These qualities are exemplified in the present print by the undulating face of the cliff and the rhythms of the lion’s mane.
