Artwork
St. Jerome
St. Jerome is a paint painting by the Early Renaissance artist Jacopo da Sellaio. It dates from 1493 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin. Jacopo del Sellaio, a Florentine painter active in the late 15th century, executed the tempera panel titled *St.
About this work
Overview
Jacopo del Sellaio, a Florentine painter active in the late 15th century, executed the tempera panel titled *St. Jerome* in 1493. The work portrays the saint in a contemplative pose before a rocky hermitage, accompanied by his traditional lion and symbolic objects. It is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents Jerome kneeling before a cave, his halo indicating sanctity. He holds a skull, a reminder of mortality, and a book, alluding to his scholarly translations of the Bible. The presence of a lion at his feet follows the legend of the saint’s taming of the animal, reinforcing themes of penitence and divine wisdom.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera on wood, the painting employs a restrained palette of browns and grays. Sellaio’s handling of light and shadow creates a subtle chiaroscuro that models the figures and gives the rocky setting a sense of three‑dimensionality. The overall tone is muted, enhancing the work’s contemplative atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created in 1493, the panel later entered the holdings of Berlin’s Gemäldegalerie, where it remains on display. Sellaio’s career linked him to the workshop of Fra Filippo Lippi and the Florentine painters’ confraternity, contexts that informed his synthesis of contemporary stylistic influences.
Context
The image reflects the Renaissance interest in depicting saints within naturalistic landscapes, integrating symbolic objects with a realistic setting. Jerome’s hermitage scene aligns with contemporary devotional trends that emphasized personal meditation and the moral lessons drawn from the lives of the saints.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacopo del Sellaio (1441/42–1493) was an Italian painter of the early Renaissance, active in his native Florence.
