Artwork
Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Francesco Granacci. It dates from 1532 and is held in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek.
About this work
Technique & Style
The support of a wooden panel reflects the traditional materials favored by Italian Renaissance painters before the widespread adoption of canvas.
Francesco Granacci's Saint Jerome, executed in 1532, is an oil painting on a poplar panel. The work measures 126.5 cm in height and 63.5 cm in width, adhering to the vertical format typical of religious devotional images from this period. As a religious painting, the artist employed oil paint to achieve the necessary depth and detail for the depiction of the saint.
The support of a wooden panel reflects the traditional materials favored by Italian Renaissance painters before the widespread adoption of canvas. The painting is currently held within the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek.
History & Provenance
Francesco Granacci executed the oil painting Saint Jerome in 1532. The work was created on a poplar panel and depicts the religious figure Jerome. Today, the painting is held within the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, where it is housed at the Alte Pinakothek.
The painting Saint Jerome by Francesco Granacci is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. It is specifically located at the Alte Pinakothek. Created in 1532, the work is executed in oil paint on a poplar panel and depicts the religious figure Jerome.
Legacy
The depiction of Saint Jerome by Francesco Granacci, painted in 1532, has been part of the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich since its creation. The work, rendered in oil on poplar panel, is recognized for its devotional intensity and precise anatomical detail, influencing later interpretations of the saint’s asceticism. Though not widely reproduced in contemporary print, its presence in a major public collection ensured continued scholarly attention to Granacci’s role in Renaissance religious painting. Art historians reference the painting when discussing the evolution of saintly portraiture in the early 16th century.
Overview
Created in 1532, this oil painting portrays Saint Jerome, a figure traditionally associated with scholarly contemplation. The work is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich and exemplifies the religious genre painting typical of early 16th‑century Italy.
Subject & Meaning
The saint is shown in a red robe over a white tunic, holding a green book that alludes to his biblical translations. A white beard and a lion’s head placed behind him reinforce his identification with the hermit scholar of the desert, emphasizing a mood of quiet reflection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Granacci (1469 – 30 November 1543) was an Italian Renaissance painter active primarily in his native Florence.
