Just in time for May 14 commencement, a special donation of a Rembrandt etching is now on public display at Wheeling Jesuit University.
Installed in the Bishop Hodges Library, located in Swint Hall, “St. Jerome Kneeling in Prayer, Looking Down” will delight art lovers and local historians who are invited to take a peek at the masterpiece. Donated by an anonymous alumnus, the gift is another way for the University to mark its 50th anniversary year.
A true icon in the world of fine arts, Rembrandt van Rijn lived from 1606 to 1669 and created nearly 300 etchings during his lifetime. His earliest etching was done in 1625, the year of his first known painting. The Wheeling Jesuit Rembrandt dates to 1635.
“This piece is a magnificent addition to the university, and we are grateful to the donor for this generous gift,” commented Wheeling Jesuit University President Rev. Joseph R. Hacala, S.J. The etching was blessed at a special Founder’s Day celebration this past Feb. 11 but a secure system had to be designed for mounting the artwork in an appropriate public space.
Because St. Jerome is the patron saint of librarians, it could find no better home than Bishop Hodges Library. St. Jerome was a fourth century church scholar responsible for biblical translations and Catholic librarians have long sought his inspiration and protection.
The Rembrandt etching shows the saint with a lion just behind him, a reference to the legend that he once miraculously drew a thorn from a lion’s paw. A prolific writer, St. Jerome also authored vast numbers of letters that have been used as an important religious resource through the ages.
The lovely etching is small — approximately 4 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches in size — but is framed to be much bigger. Prepared for public display by Neil Warren, owner of Design & Image Studio in Wheeling, the treasure impressed Warren with its historical and artistic significance.
Born in the Netherlands, Rembrandt became famous in his own time largely due to his skill and innovation with etchings. His talent was unmatched.
The process of etching is generally not well known. An artist creates an etching by drawing with a needle onto a resin-coated metal plate. The plate is then immersed in acid, causing the drawing to be permanently cut into the plate. Rembrandt defied the current standards and produced etchings that were rich with nuances of texture and tone. He worked on the plates for months as an artist, simply substituting the needle for a brush.
He also combined standard etching techniques with drypoint to create very deep blacks and shadows (drypoint is scratched directly onto the surface of the metal plate). Rembrandt used copper plates and a wooden printing press, often operating it himself, rather than having a printmaker perform the task.
Public hours for Wheeling Jesuit University Bishop Hodges Library will soon change to summer hours. As of May 16, hours are 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday through Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fridays, 1 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturdays and closed Sundays. Please call 304-243-2226 for holiday hours.
Wheeling Jesuit University integrates the Jesuit traditions of intellectual excellence with the best of advanced technology to help students develop lives of success, service and significance. The University's mission is to educate students for life, for leadership, and for service with and among others. U.S.News & World Report ranks Wheeling Jesuit University 15th in the "Best Master’s Universities in the South," making it the highest ranked institution in West Virginia in that category for eight consecutive years, and the highest ranked school in the Ohio Valley.
