St. Jerome the Priest (Meštrović) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Jerome the Priest |
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| Artist | Ivan Meštrović |
| Year | 1954 |
| Dimensions | 2.4 m × 0.91 m (8 ft × 3 ft) |
| Location | Washington, D.C., United States |
| 38°54′48.96″N 77°3′7.2″W / 38.9136000°N 77.052000°W | |
St. Jerome the Priest is a large bronze statue. It was created by a famous artist named Ivan Meštrović. You can find this impressive artwork in Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States. It stands at 2343 Massachusetts Avenue.
About the Statue
This statue shows Saint Jerome, an important religious figure. Ivan Meštrović gave this artwork as a gift. He gave it to the Croatian Franciscan Fathers. These are a group of priests who follow the teachings of Saint Francis. They had asked Meštrović to create a statue of Saint Jerome.
Saint Jerome was born in the area that is now modern Croatia. This is why the statue is special to Croatian people. The statue was first placed at the Franciscan Fathers' Abbey. This abbey was located on Monroe Street in Washington, D.C. Later, the statue was moved. It now stands in front of the Croatian Embassy. This embassy is on a street known as Embassy Row.
What the Inscription Says
The statue has words carved into its base. This carving is called an inscription. It tells us more about Saint Jerome and the statue.
The inscription on the front of the base reads:
A.D. 341–420
GREATEST DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
The "A.D." stands for Anno Domini, which means "in the year of the Lord." It tells us the years Saint Jerome lived. He lived from 341 to 420. Being called a "Doctor of the Church" means he was a very wise and important teacher. His teachings helped shape Christian beliefs. "I. MESTROVIC" is the signature of the artist, Ivan Meštrović.
