Artwork
St Jerome and the Lion
St Jerome and the Lion is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Rogier van der Weyden. It dates from 1450 and is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts. Created between roughly 1450 and 1465, this oil painting on oak panel portrays Saint Jerome accompanied by a lion.
About this work
Overview
Created between roughly 1450 and 1465, this oil painting on oak panel portrays Saint Jerome accompanied by a lion. The work is attributed to Rogier van der Weyden or to artists working within his workshop, and it is presently displayed in the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Subject & Meaning
The composition illustrates the traditional legend in which Jerome, the 4th‑century Church Father, removes a thorn from a lion’s paw, symbolising his compassion and the taming of wild nature. The lion, often shown with a crown of thorns, serves as an emblem of the saint’s miraculous intervention.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on oak, the painting employs subtle gradations of light and shadow to model the figures, creating a modest sense of three‑dimensionality. The handling of flesh tones and the delicate rendering of the lion’s fur reflect the refined approach characteristic of van der Weyden’s circle.
History & Provenance
The panel entered the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts in the 20th century, having passed through several private hands. Its attribution to van der Weyden’s studio has been supported by stylistic analysis and comparison with other mid‑15th‑century works.
Context
During the mid‑1400s, there was a renewed artistic interest in Saint Jerome, prompting numerous depictions across Northern Europe. This painting aligns with that trend, presenting the saint in a contemplative, desert‑like setting that emphasizes his scholarly and ascetic virtues.
Artist & collection
Artist
Rogier van der Weyden (Dutch: ; 1399 or 1400 – 18 June 1464), initially known as Roger de la Pasture (French: ), was an early Netherlandish painter whose surviving works consist mainly of religious triptychs,…
