Artwork
St Jerome in the Desert
St Jerome in the Desert is an oil painting by the Venetian Renaissance artist Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created around the turn of the 16th century, this oil painting portrays Saint Jerome seated on a rocky outcrop in a sparse, sunlit landscape. The figure, an elderly man with a white beard, is dressed in a simple blue robe and holds a small object, likely a book, in his left hand. A wooden cross leans against a tree behind him, while low green shrubs and a clear sky complete the composition.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts Saint Jerome, a 4th‑century scholar renowned for translating the Bible into Latin. His solitary pose and the modest surroundings emphasize his reputation for ascetic study and contemplation. The presence of the cross underscores his Christian devotion, while the barren setting reflects the hermitic life he is traditionally associated with in hagiographic narratives.
Technique & Style
Soft transitions in the sky and foliage create a serene atmosphere, while fine brushwork renders the texture of Jerome's skin, beard, and fabric.
Executed in oil on panel, the painting demonstrates the Venetian school's characteristic use of luminous colour and delicate modelling of light. Soft transitions in the sky and foliage create a serene atmosphere, while fine brushwork renders the texture of Jerome's skin, beard, and fabric. The composition balances the figure with the landscape, achieving a harmonious spatial arrangement typical of the period.
History & Provenance
The artwork was produced by Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano, an Italian painter active in Venice at the close of the 15th century. Influenced by the Sicilian master Antonello da Messina, Cima incorporated a calm, contemplative mood into his religious scenes. The painting entered the collection of the State Hermitage Museum, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of Venetian Renaissance art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano
Giovanni Battista Cima, also called Cima da Conegliano (c. 1459 – c. 1517), was an Italian Renaissance painter, who mostly worked in Venice. He can be considered part of the Venetian school, though he was also…
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