Artwork
St. Jerome Appearing to St Augustine.jpg
St. Jerome Appearing to St Augustine.jpg is a paint painting by the Early Renaissance artist Giovanni di Paolo. It dates from 1465 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1465, this painted panel by the Sienese artist Giovanni di Paolo portrays a visionary encounter between two saints within an intimate interior. The work is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin and exemplifies the devotional imagery typical of mid‑15th‑century Italian painting.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a figure in red robes on the left, identified as Saint Augustine, receiving a visitation from Saint Jerome, who appears in black attire on the right. The presence of a bookshelf and scattered manuscripts underscores Jerome’s role as a scholar and translator, while Augustine’s attentive posture suggests contemplation of the theological counsel offered.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera on panel, the painting displays di Paolo’s characteristic attention to detail and vivid coloration. The interior is rendered with precise linear perspective, allowing the viewer to discern individual books, a desk, and surrounding architecture. The contrast between the deep reds and somber blacks highlights the figures against the muted background.
History & Provenance
The panel entered the Gemäldegalerie Berlin’s holdings in the early 20th century, though its earlier ownership remains unclear. Its attribution to Giovanni di Paolo is supported by stylistic parallels to his other devotional works and by documentary evidence linking the artist to similar commissions for religious institutions in Siena.
Context
During the mid‑1400s, Siena produced numerous paintings that combined narrative clarity with elaborate iconography. This work reflects the period’s emphasis on didactic imagery, intended to inspire contemplation among viewers familiar with the lives of the Church Fathers. The inclusion of scholarly objects aligns with contemporary humanist interests in textual study.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia was an Italian painter, working primarily in Siena, becoming a prolific painter and illustrator of manuscripts, including Dante's texts.
The Adoration of the Magi
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple
Madonna and Child with Two Angels and a Donor
Paradise
Saint Catherine of Siena Beseeching Christ to Resuscitate Her Mother
Saint Catherine of Siena Receiving the Stigmata
The Annunciation to Zacharias; (verso) The Angel of the Annunciation
The Creation of the World and the Expulsion from Paradise
Saint Augustine's Vision of Saints Jerome and John the Baptist
Saint Augustine's Vision of Saints Jerome and John the Baptist
Saint Catherine of Siena Dictating Her Dialogues
Saint Jerome Translating the Gospels
The Birth of the Virgin
Annunciation
Saint Anthony Leaving His Monastery
Saint Peter Martyr Exorcizing a Woman Possessed by a Devil
Saint John the Baptist in Prison Visited by Two Disciples
Saint Anthony Distributing His Wealth to the Poor
Annunciation and Three Kings of the Epiphany
Annunciation