Saint Jerome

Donor: Unknown

Builder: Same style as Louis Koch's other works

Jerome was an important Church elder who lived during the fourth and fifth centuries. He is most famous for translating the Christian Bible into Latin, in the version known as the Vulgate Bible.

He is the patron saint of translators, librarians and encyclopedists. He is often symbolized by or depicted with a skull, an hourglass and instruments for writing. Jerome took up his pen like a sword.

One other object often appears in depictions of St. Jerome is a sword. According to some scholars, this is what is referred to as the Sword of St. Jerome. This would be fitting, because it is a simple everyday object that can be turned into a deadly weapon or a useful tool, depending on intent.

At the foot of St. Jerome are architectural drawings that reflect the architectural style of the Basilica Cathedral. Perhaps the artist way of making a connection between his art and the Cathedral that had commissioned this work.