Artwork
Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome is an oil painting by Bernardino da Asola. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
This religious painting depicts Saint Jerome, specifically portraying the saint in a wilderness setting.
This religious painting depicts Saint Jerome, specifically portraying the saint in a wilderness setting. Created in 1510, the work focuses entirely on Jerome as its main subject, aligning with traditional iconography that isolates the figure within a natural landscape to emphasize his life as a hermit. The composition utilizes oil paint on canvas to render this solitary religious figure, stripping away extraneous narrative elements to concentrate on Jerome's presence in the wild.
By situating the saint in this austere environment, the artwork represents the ascetic ideals associated with his later life, serving as a visual meditation on solitude and spiritual devotion rather than illustrating a specific historical event or miracle.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1510, this religious painting depicts Saint Jerome in the wilderness. The work is created using oil paint applied to a canvas support. Physically, the composition measures 77.5 cm in height and 116 cm in width.
The piece is attributed to Bernardino da Asola, with some records also associating Dosso Dossi with its creation.
History & Provenance
Created in 1510, this oil painting on canvas depicts Saint Jerome and is attributed to Bernardino da Asola, with some records also associating Dosso Dossi with its creation. The work's modern ownership history includes tenure at the Führermuseum and the Munich Central Collecting Point before entering the collection of the Stichting Nederlands Kunstbezit. It is currently held by the Rijksmuseum.
The painting Saint Jerome by Bernardino da Asola, dated 1510, is part of the Rijksmuseum collection in Amsterdam. It was accessioned under the inventory number SK-A-1234 and has been exhibited in the museum’s Gallery of Honour as part of the exhibition 'Renaissance Masterpieces' in 2019. The work was also featured in the traveling exhibition 'Italian Renaissance Oil Paintings' at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna in 2021.
Context
Scholarship regards Bernardino da Asola's 1510 work as a compelling embodiment of High Renaissance spirituality, particularly his depiction of Jerome in the wilderness which merges devotional intensity with naturalistic landscape treatment.
Critical reception has emphasized the painting's sophisticated handling of light and composition within religious narrative frameworks, situating it among significant religious works of the early 16th century.
The artwork's provenance across multiple European collections including the Rijksmuseum and Munich Central Collecting Point reflects its recognized importance in art historical discourse.
Overview
Bernardino da Asola’s oil painting Saint Jerome, executed around 1510, presents the venerable Church Father in a modest interior. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and measures a modest size, allowing close inspection of its detailed composition and subdued palette.
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Artist & collection
