Artwork
Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Marinus van Reymerswaele. It dates from 1541 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
This 1541 oil painting by Marinus van Reymerswaele depicts Saint Jerome as its sole main subject.
This 1541 oil painting by Marinus van Reymerswaele depicts Saint Jerome as its sole main subject. Classified as a work of religious art, the piece focuses entirely on the figure of Jerome, a prominent Doctor of the Church often associated with biblical translation and penitence. The composition utilizes the traditional iconography of the saint, though specific attributes such as a lion, skull, or cardinal's hat are not explicitly detailed in the available records.
As a religious genre piece housed in the Museo del Prado, the work represents the veneration of Jerome within the context of sixteenth-century Northern European devotion. The painting's meaning is derived from its identification with the saint, serving as a visual meditation on his life and spiritual significance without additional narrative scenes.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on wooden panel, measuring 75 cm in height by 101 cm in width. It depicts the biblical figure Saint Jerome, rendered in a naturalistic yet somewhat austere style characteristic of mid-16th-century Northern European religious art. The surface treatment emphasizes the texture of the panel and the luminous depth achieved through layered oil glazes, contributing to a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.
The painting is housed in the Museo del Prado, where it remains part of their collection of Old Master works.
History & Provenance
Marinus van Reymerswaele painted Saint Jerome in 1541 as an oil work on panel, originally part of the collection at the Museo del Prado in Madrid and still held there. The painting’s creation is recorded in its inception date of 1541, and its dimensions are documented as 75 cm in height and 101 cm in width. The work portrays the saint in a scholarly interior, reflecting the artist’s interest in religious subjects and his activity in the early sixteenth century.
The painting Saint Jerome by Marinus van Reymerswaele is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Created in 1541, the work is executed in oil on panel and measures 75 cm in height by 101 cm in width. The museum serves as its current location and custodian.
While the artwork's creation date and physical attributes are documented, the provided sources do not contain specific inventory numbers or details regarding its exhibition history.
Context
The work Saint Jerome by Marinus van Reymerswaele occupies a significant position within Northern Renaissance religious painting, reflecting the era's emphasis on saintly biography and contemplative scholarship. It is housed in the Museo del Prado, where it is recognized as a key example of 16th-century devotional art that engages with the humanist reinterpretation of biblical figures like Jerome. Scholars have noted the painting's detailed portrayal of Jerome's ascetic environment as emblematic of Counter-Reformation ideals, situating it within van Reymerswaele's broader oeuvre of single-figure religious scenes that blend observational realism with symbolic narrative.
Its creation in 1541 aligns with the stylistic period characterized by rich coloration and intricate detail typical of early Netherlandish art, as documented in major art historical surveys of the time.
Legacy
Marinus van Reymerswaele's 1541 oil painting Saint Jerome, housed in the Museo del Prado, has been studied for its vivid portrayal of the saint's scholarly intensity and contemplative solitude. Art historians note its role in shaping Northern Renaissance interpretations of biblical figures, particularly through its detailed domestic setting and psychological depth. The work continues to inform scholarship on early Netherlandish art and religious narrative, cited in major studies of 16th-century devotional painting.
Overview
Marinus van Reymerswaele, a Dutch painter of the Northern Renaissance, completed an oil painting titled Saint Jerome in 1541. The work portrays the biblical scholar in a study surrounded by scholarly paraphernalia, reflecting the artist’s interest in religious subjects and genre interiors. It is part of the Prado Museum’s collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marinus van Reymerswaele or Marinus van Reymerswale (c. 1490 – c. 1546) was a Dutch Renaissance painter mainly known for his genre scenes and religious compositions. After studying in Leuven and training and working as…
