St Jerome
1649
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
St Jerome is a 1649 by Unknown, held at Statens Museum for Kunst.
This photo shows an older man with a long white beard, sitting at a desk. He’s holding a quill pen and writing in a large book spread open in front of him. Behind him, a wooden chair leans against the wall, and a scroll lies on the desk. The lighting is dim, with warm tones on his face and arms, while the background stays dark. The contrast between light and shadow makes his skin and the desk look almost three-dimensional. This effect is called *chiaroscuro*—a technique that uses strong light and dark areas to add depth. Check out more about chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow like this.
