Artwork
Madonna and Child with Saint Jerome
Madonna and Child with Saint Jerome is an oil painting by the Early Renaissance artist Pinturicchio. It dates from 1490 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
This painting is called Madonna and Child with Saint Jerome.
It was made by Pinturicchio in the 15th century.
The artist created it using oil paint, a common medium at the time.
Pinturicchio was an Italian painter, which might have influenced his work.
You can learn more about the style of this painting by looking at the work of Pinturicchio.
Overview
The composition brings together the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus and the scholarly saint Jerome, set within a balanced, devotional scene.
Created in 1481, the work titled *Madonna and Child with Saint Jerome* is an oil painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Pinturicchio. The composition brings together the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus and the scholarly saint Jerome, set within a balanced, devotional scene. Today the panel forms part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, where it is displayed among other works of the period.
Subject & Meaning
The central figures—Mary holding the Christ child—represent the traditional Christian theme of maternal devotion, while Saint Jerome, identifiable by his cardinal attire and the lion at his side, adds a scholarly, penitential dimension. Jerome’s presence underscores themes of biblical scholarship and asceticism, linking the tender intimacy of the Madonna with the intellectual rigor of the saint.
Technique & Style
Pinturicchio employed oil paint, a medium gaining popularity in the late 15th century for its capacity to render fine detail and luminous color. His handling shows the delicate modeling of flesh and drapery characteristic of the Umbrian school, while the crisp outlines and decorative motifs reflect his affinity for the ornamental richness of contemporary courtly art.
History & Provenance
After its completion in the early 1480s, the painting entered private collections before eventually being acquired by the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, where it has been conserved as part of the museum’s Renaissance holdings. Its documented provenance traces a path from Italian patronage to German institutional care, illustrating the broader movement of Italian artworks across Europe in the centuries following their creation.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pinturicchio, or Pintoricchio (US: , Italian: ; born Bernardino di Betto; 1454–1513), also known as Benetto di Biagio or Sordicchio, was an Italian Renaissance painter.
