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 1541 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
A Bible and a crucifix emphasize his theological scholarship and Christian devotion, while a skull serves as a traditional memento mori, symbolizing mortality.
The artwork portrays Saint Jerome as its central subject, placing the piece within the religious genre. Jerome is depicted within his study, surrounded by objects rich in symbolic meaning. A Bible and a crucifix emphasize his theological scholarship and Christian devotion, while a skull serves as a traditional memento mori, symbolizing mortality.
Additional attributes include a candle, which may allude to the light of knowledge or the transience of life, and a pair of glasses, reflecting his scholarly pursuit of reading and translation.
Technique & Style
Created in 1541, this work by Marinus van Reymerswaele is an oil painting executed on a panel support. The piece measures 80 cm in height and 108 cm in width. As a religious genre painting, it depicts Saint Jerome surrounded by specific iconographic elements including a skull, Bible, candle, glasses, and a crucifix.
The medium of oil paint on panel was a standard technique for Northern Renaissance masters, allowing for the detailed rendering of textures and objects within the interior study setting.
History & Provenance
Marinus van Reymerswaele executed this oil painting on panel in 1541. The work, depicting Saint Jerome within his study, was historically owned by Pablo Bosch y Barrau. It currently resides in the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it is cataloged under the inventory number P002653.
Context
Saint Jerome in his study, painted by Marinus van Reymerswaele in 1541, exemplifies the Northern European religious tradition of the mid-sixteenth century. The work, executed in oil on panel, was created for devotional use and reflects the artist's recurring interest in saintly figures and moral contemplation. It entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it is displayed among the museum's holdings of early Netherlandish art, and scholarly attention has focused on its iconography and technical execution.
The painting's provenance, documented through ownership by Pablo Bosch y Barrau, underscores its journey into a major public collection.
Overview
Marinus van Reymerswaele, a Dutch painter from the Northern Renaissance, completed Saint Jerome in his Study in 1541. This oil painting depicts the revered scholar in an intimate interior, surrounded by objects reflecting his intellectual and spiritual life. The work is characteristic of the artist's focus on both religious and genre themes, a common practice in the Low Countries during this period. It is currently housed in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
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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…
