Artwork
The Temptation of Saint Jerome
The Temptation of Saint Jerome is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Giorgio Vasari. It dates from 1544 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
The Temptation of Saint Jerome is an oil-on-panel painting by Giorgio Vasari, depicting a pivotal moment in the life of the saint. The work remains unfinished, with visible preparatory elements.
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates Saint Jerome, a scholar and ascetic, being tempted during desert meditation. Venus, accompanied by cupids, embodies these temptations, contrasting with Jerome's devoted, monastic lifestyle.
Technique & Style
Vasari employed a black-chalk grid, visible under thin initial paint layers, to transfer his preparatory drawing onto the panel. The piece also showcases his use of oil painting techniques, notably glazing.
History & Provenance
Created for the Medici dukes of Florence, the painting reflects Vasari's dual role as a painter and a chronicler of artistic lives, as seen in his renowned book, Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects.
Context
As an artist, architect, and writer, Vasari's work bridged multiple Renaissance disciplines. This painting demonstrates his artistic skill alongside his literary and architectural pursuits.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giorgio Vasari (30 July 1511 – 27 June 1574) was an Italian Renaissance painter, architect, art historian, and biographer known for his work Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, considered…
