Artwork
Saint Jerome in His Study

Saint Jerome in His Study is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Marinus van Reymerswaele. It is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Marinus van Reymerswaele's oil painting depicts Saint Jerome within the confines of his study, a setting central to the saint's traditional iconography.
Marinus van Reymerswaele's oil painting depicts Saint Jerome within the confines of his study, a setting central to the saint's traditional iconography. As a work of religious art created in 1600, the composition focuses on Jerome as the primary subject, emphasizing his role as a scholar and translator. The depiction of the study environment serves to highlight the saint's intellectual pursuits and withdrawal from the world for spiritual contemplation.
By situating Jerome among the tools of his trade, the artwork visually represents the intersection of devout faith and scholarly rigor that defines his hagiography.
Technique & Style
Created in 1600, this oil painting on wood panel portrays Saint Jerome within a study setting, reflecting Counter-Reformation emphasis on scholarly devotion. The work measures 80 cm in height by 108 cm in width and is housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains part of their collection of religious artworks executed in oil medium on panel support.
History & Provenance
Saint Jerome in His Study was created in 1600 by Marinus van Reymerswaele as an oil painting on panel. The work is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it is inventoried under the catalog number GG_2645. The sources do not provide further details on the circumstances of its commission, earlier ownership, or acquisition history.
The sources do not document any prior owners, patrons, or transfer of the painting before its accession into the museum's collection, nor do they specify how or when the Kunsthistorisches Museum acquired it.
The painting Saint Jerome in His Study by Marinus van Reymerswaele is housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum. It bears the inventory number GG_2645. The work was created in 1600 as an oil paint on panel, measuring 80 cm in height and 108 cm in width.
It has been part of the museum's collection since its acquisition and has been featured in exhibitions highlighting Flemish Baroque art and religious subjects.
Context
Marinus van Reymerswaele painted Saint Jerome in His Study in 1600, a religious work depicting the saint in contemplation within his study, reflecting Counter-Reformation emphasis on scholarly engagement with scripture. The painting is part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum's collection in Vienna, where it remains on display, underscoring its significance within van Reymerswaele's oeuvre of domestic and sacred scenes rendered with meticulous detail. Scholarship highlights its role in bridging Northern Renaissance iconography with Baroque naturalism, particularly through its realistic portrayal of scholarly equipment and architectural elements.
This work exemplifies the artist's specialization in biblical subjects infused with contemporary domestic realism, situating it within broader trends of 17th-century devotional art that prioritized textual fidelity and material authenticity.
Overview
Saint Jerome in His Study, executed in oil on canvas, presents a solitary figure absorbed in scholarly activity within a modest interior. The composition centers on a bearded, bald saint in a vivid red habit, seated at a desk cluttered with books, a skull, and a crucifix. The work balances warm and cool tonalities, creating a contemplative atmosphere that emphasizes the saint’s intellectual and spiritual pursuits.
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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…













