Who painted Saint Jerome?

Saint Jerome was painted by Netherlandish 16th Century in 1510.

Where can I see Saint Jerome?

Saint Jerome is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Saint Jerome?

Saint Jerome is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Saint Jerome

Netherlandish 16th Century , 1510

Saint Jerome is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Netherlandish 16th Century. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The print is an engraving portraying a seated figure, likely Saint Jerome, in a meditative posture. He is surrounded by symbolic objects—a skull, a book, and a lion—while a distant cityscape with trees forms the background. The composition relies on fine cross‑hatching to convey depth and texture.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, traditionally identified as Saint Jerome, is shown in contemplation, a pose associated with his scholarly and ascetic reputation. The skull signifies mortality, the book references his biblical translations, and the lion alludes to the legend of his taming of a wild beast.

Technique & Style

Executed in engraving, the work employs dense cross‑hatching to model forms and suggest atmospheric perspective. The meticulous line work creates subtle gradations of tone, rendering the figure, objects, and distant architecture with a high degree of detail characteristic of early modern printmaking.

History & Provenance

The print is catalogued as a standalone work titled “Saint Jerome.” No specific date, artist, or collection information is provided, limiting its documented provenance to the description of its medium and subject.

Context

Engravings of saints were common in devotional print series, serving both as objects of private contemplation and as illustrations for religious texts. The inclusion of scholarly and penitential symbols aligns the image with the humanist interest in Saint Jerome’s role as a translator and hermit.