Artwork
Hl. Hieronymus (Nachahmer)
Hl. Hieronymus (Nachahmer) is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gerrit Dou. It dates from 1662 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1662 by Gerrit Dou, a Dutch painter associated with the fijnschilders of Leiden, this modestly sized oil work portrays a kneeling figure in a contemplative pose. The composition is part of the religious genre typical of the Dutch Golden Age and is currently housed in Munich’s Alte Pinakothek.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is identified as Saint Jerome, recognizable by his dark habit, the crucifix he grasps, and the open book he rests his other hand upon. The inclusion of a small white dog at his feet reinforces the saint’s traditional iconography, symbolising loyalty and the ascetic life of scholarship and prayer.
Technique & Style
Dou employs a refined chiaroscuro, using deep shadows to model the figure against a stone wall and to highlight the illuminated face and objects. His meticulous brushwork renders textures—from the fabric of the robe to the fur of the dog—with a polished finish characteristic of the Leiden fijnschilders.
History & Provenance
A pupil of Rembrandt, Dou developed a reputation for intimate, highly detailed canvases. After remaining in private collections for centuries, the painting entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings, where it contributes to the museum’s representation of 17th‑century Dutch religious art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gerrit Dou (pronounced ; 7 April 1613 – 9 February 1675), also known as Gerard Douw or Dow, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, whose small, highly polished paintings are typical of the Leiden fijnschilders.
