Artwork
Saint Jerome in his Study
Saint Jerome in his Study is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Marinus van Reymerswaele. It dates from 1501 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
These elements collectively represent Jerome's roles as a translator of the Bible, a penitent ascetic, and a model of intellectual and spiritual dedication.
The painting depicts Saint Jerome in his Study, a common subject in Northern Renaissance art that portrays the scholarly hermit-saint in an interior setting surrounded by objects symbolic of his life and virtues. Jerome is shown seated at a desk, surrounded by books and writing implements, engaged in scholarly or devotional activity. The inclusion of a skull and a crucifix alludes to themes of mortality and the contemplation of Christ's sacrifice, while the candle and oil lamp emphasize the pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment through study.
These elements collectively represent Jerome's roles as a translator of the Bible, a penitent ascetic, and a model of intellectual and spiritual dedication.
Technique & Style
Saint Jerome in his Study is executed in oil paint on panel, a medium and support typical of early Netherlandish practice. The composition measures 65 cm in height by 87 cm in width. The work is classified as a religious painting and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
Stylistically, the painting belongs to Marinus van Reymerswaele's religious iconography, centered on the figure of Jerome within a study environment. The depicted attributes, a skull, office supplies, a candle, and a crucifix, are rendered as part of the saint's scholarly and penitential setting, consistent with the iconographic conventions of the period.
History & Provenance
Saint Jerome in his Study is an oil painting on panel by Marinus van Reymerswaele, dated 1501. It depicts the saint within a study setting, surrounded by objects such as a skull, books and office supplies, a candle, and a crucifix. The painting is held in the Museo del Prado, Madrid, where it is cataloged under inventory number P005742.
Context
Marinus van Reymerswaele's Saint Jerome in his Study, dated 1501, is a religious work depicting the saint surrounded by symbols of scholarship and penitence such as a skull, crucifix, and candle. The painting is part of the Museo del Prado's collection, attributed to the artist. Scholarship situates the work within van Reymerswaele's broader oeuvre of devotional subjects rendered with meticulous detail, reflecting early sixteenth-century northern European artistic conventions.
Its composition and iconography have been analyzed in relation to interpretations of Saint Jerome's scholarly and ascetic life.
Overview
Marinus van Reymerswaele, a Dutch painter of the early sixteenth century, produced the oil work Saint Jerome in his Study in 1501. The composition places the saint at a desk surrounded by scholarly and devotional objects, rendered in the detailed manner typical of the Northern Renaissance. The painting is part of the Museo del Prado’s collection.
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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…
