Artwork
Der hl. Hieronymus
Der hl. Hieronymus is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Hans Burgkmair the Elder. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Hans Burgkmair the Elder’s 1510 oil painting presents a solitary figure identified as Saint Jerome. Executed in the early sixteenth century, the work belongs to the museum’s collection at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich and exemplifies the period’s devotional imagery.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a bearded, bald man draped in a simple cloth over one shoulder, a conventional portrayal of Jerome as a hermit scholar. He lifts a small wooden cross to his nose, a gesture suggesting contemplation of Christ’s suffering and the saint’s penitential devotion.
Technique & Style
Burgkmair employs careful modeling of the face and hands, using subtle gradations of light to render the skin’s texture and age. The dark, unadorned background isolates the figure, while the chiaroscuro contrast enhances the three‑dimensional presence of the saint.
History & Provenance
Created in 1510, the painting entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Burgkmair the Elder aligns with his known output of religious works during the transition from late Gothic to early Renaissance styles in Germany.
Context
The work reflects the Northern Renaissance interest in intimate, meditative scenes of saints, moving away from grand narrative compositions. Jerome’s solitary pose and the focus on a single symbolic object echo contemporary devotional practices that emphasized personal piety.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Burgkmair the Elder (1473–1531) was a German artist, born in Augsburg.
St. Jerome
Christ sitting on the Cold Stone
Christ carrying the cross
Crucifixion of Christ
Kreuzigungsaltar, linker Flügel: Der bußfertige Schächer und der hl. Lazarus
St. John the Baptist
Rem-Altar: Martyrium des hl. Sebastian (Rückseite: Hl. Lukas)
The Good Thief (Saint Dismas)
Christ Crowned with Thorns
St. Francis Kneeling before Christ on the Cross
Saint Peter