Artwork
Saint Jerome in the Wilderness
Saint Jerome in the Wilderness is an oil painting by the Early Renaissance artist Pinturicchio. It dates from 1489 and is held in the collection of the Walters Art Museum. Executed around 1475‑1480, this oil on panel measures roughly 150 by 106 centimetres and depicts Saint Jerome in a solitary landscape.
About this work
Overview
Executed around 1475‑1480, this oil on panel measures roughly 150 by 106 centimetres and depicts Saint Jerome in a solitary landscape. The work belongs to the early phase of Pinturicchio’s career, dating shortly after his participation in the Miracles of St Bernardino series. It presents the saint in a contemplative pose, emphasizing his hermitic existence.
Technique & Style
Pinturicchio employs a refined oil medium on wood, allowing delicate modelling of flesh and drapery. The palette combines muted earth tones with subtle highlights, creating a sense of atmospheric depth. Linear details in the foliage and the saint’s attire reveal the artist’s emerging command of perspective and his inclination toward graceful, narrative composition.
History & Provenance
The painting was once part of the Bartoccini family holdings in Perugia before entering the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria.
The painting was once part of the Bartoccini family holdings in Perugia before entering the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria. It left the museum’s collection in 1915 and was purchased by American collector Henry Walters through dealer Luigi Grasse in 1916, following Bernard Berenson’s recommendation. Since 1931 it has been displayed at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, where it underwent conservation work in 1966.
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.
