Artwork
Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Hendrick ter Brugghen. It dates from 1621 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting depicts a contemplative figure in a dimly lit room, accompanied by a book and a skull.
About this work
Overview
This painting depicts a contemplative figure in a dimly lit room, accompanied by a book and a skull. Initially misidentified as the Greek philosopher Heraclitus due to the presence of tears, the subject is now recognized as Saint Jerome, renowned for his Latin translation of the Bible.
Subject & Meaning
The correct identification as Saint Jerome is supported by the presence of a book (symbolizing his scholarly work) and a skull (emblematic of mortality and penitence). The figure's tears underscore Jerome's penitent nature, intentionally emphasized by the artist.
Technique & Style
The painting employs chiaroscuro, a strong contrast between light and dark, to create a somber and introspective atmosphere, drawing focus to the figure's emotional state.
History & Provenance
Previously attributed to Heraclitus due to the tears, the painting's correct subject was later identified as Saint Jerome based on the absence of a globe (a key Heraclitus attribute) and the presence of a book and skull.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hendrick Jansz ter Brugghen (or Terbrugghen; 1588 – 1 November 1629) was a Dutch painter of genre scenes and religious subjects.
