Who painted Saint Jerome and the Lion?

Saint Jerome and the Lion was painted by Unknown in 1750.

Where can I see Saint Jerome and the Lion?

Saint Jerome and the Lion is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

Artwork

Saint Jerome and the Lion

Saint Jerome and the Lion is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Saint Jerome and the Lion, attributed to the artist known as 956_person, dates from around 1750. The work is an image‑based composition preserved in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. It depicts a solitary, bearded figure kneeling on a rugged surface beside a lion, illuminated by a suspended light source that creates pronounced chiaroscuro effects.

Subject & Meaning

The scene presents the Christian hermit Saint Jerome in a moment of quiet communion with a lion, a motif drawn from hagiographic legend in which the saint tames the beast. The juxtaposition of the contemplative human and the calm animal suggests themes of compassion, mastery over nature, and spiritual introspection.

Technique & Style

Rendered in stark black‑and‑white tones, the image relies on strong contrasts between illuminated areas and deep shadows. The light, likely represented as a lamp, casts sharp outlines that define the figures and the surrounding rocky terrain. This use of chiaroscuro heightens the dramatic tension and gives the composition a sculptural, three‑dimensional quality.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1750, the work entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date. Its attribution to 956_person remains based on stylistic analysis rather than signed documentation, and the piece has been catalogued as part of the museum’s collection of religious imagery from the mid‑18th century.