Who painted Saint Jerome?

Saint Jerome was painted by Pieter van der Werff in 1710.

Where can I see Saint Jerome?

Saint Jerome is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Saint Jerome?

Saint Jerome is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Saint Jerome?

Museum-quality prints of Saint Jerome are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Saint Jerome

Pieter van der Werff , 1710

Saint Jerome is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Pieter van der Werff. It dates from 1710 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1710, the oil painting titled *Saint Jerome* is attributed to Dutch artist Pieter van der Werff, who worked during the late Baroque and early Rococo periods. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and portrays the biblical scholar in a contemplative pose amid a natural landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The figure depicted is Saint Jerome, recognizable by his bald head, white beard, and scholarly attire. He is seated on a rock, gazing at an open book, a traditional symbol of his translation of the Vulgate. Objects such as a skull, a rolled parchment, and an hourglass reinforce themes of mortality, learning, and the passage of time.

Technique & Style

Van der Werff employs a warm palette of reds, browns, and earth tones, while deep chiaroscuro creates a sense of three‑dimensionality. The brushwork renders the textures of fabric, skin, and stone with subtle gradations, and the background landscape of trees and hills is rendered with a softened, atmospheric quality typical of early‑18th‑century Dutch painting.

History & Provenance

The canvas entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings after passing through private collections, though exact acquisition details remain limited. Pieter van der Werff, active in the Netherlands at the turn of the 18th century, often collaborated with his elder brother, Adriaen, assisting in studio production and shared commissions.

Context

Executed during a period when religious subjects were still commissioned for private devotion, the painting reflects the continued influence of Counter‑Reformation iconography in Dutch art. Its Rococo sensibility—evident in the delicate coloration and gentle composition—places it within the transitional aesthetic between the austere Dutch Golden Age and the lighter, decorative trends of the early 1700s.