Artwork
Hl. Hieronymus mit dem Posaunenengel
Hl. Hieronymus mit dem Posaunenengel is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Johann Ulrich Loth. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Johann Ulrich Loth’s 1630 oil painting presents a contemplative scene centered on Saint Jerome. The work resides in Munich’s Alte Pinakothek and belongs to the religious genre common in early‑Baroque German art. Its composition combines a scholarly figure with allegorical angels, set within a dimly lit interior that emphasizes the solemn mood of the subject.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a bearded Jerome, seated at a desk and engaged in transcription, his hand resting on a skull that serves as a memento mori, reminding viewers of mortality. An open book displays Latin verses in red ink, blending admonitions and counsel, while a trumpet‑blowing angel and a second angel bearing scales introduce themes of divine judgment and the balance of earthly knowledge.
Technique & Style
Loth employs pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting a focused beam of light on the scholar and his desk with deep shadows that engulf the surrounding space. The dramatic illumination highlights textures—the smooth skin of the angels, the roughness of the skull, and the vellum of the manuscript—while the limited palette of muted earth tones reinforces the painting’s introspective atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created in 1630, the canvas entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Loth aligns with his known output of religious commissions for German patrons during the early seventeenth century, reflecting the Counter‑Reformation’s emphasis on didactic imagery and the moralizing power of saintly exemplars.
Artist & collection
