Artwork
Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome is an oil painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder. It dates from 1515 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1515 by Lucas Cranach the Elder, this oil on canvas portrays the biblical scholar Saint Jerome. The work is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. It presents a solitary figure seated on a plain blue backdrop, accompanied by a lion that rests its head on his lap.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is an elderly man with a flowing white beard, dressed in a vivid red garment, holding a small object—likely a reference to Jerome’s scholarly tools. The lion, a traditional attribute of the saint, symbolizes the taming of wildness through faith and learning, reinforcing Jerome’s reputation as a learned hermit.
Technique & Style
Cranach renders the lion’s fur with meticulous, fine brushstrokes that give the animal a tactile presence, contrasting with the smooth, flat blue background. The figure’s drapery is depicted with crisp lines and a limited palette, characteristic of Cranach’s Northern Renaissance approach, which balances detailed naturalism with a decorative surface.
History & Provenance
Although the inscription above the saint’s head reads “Theranimus,” scholars have identified the subject as Saint Jerome, a common misreading in early inventories. The painting entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings in the 19th century, where it has remained on display as an example of Cranach’s religious output during the early 16th century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving.
