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Saint Jerome in His Study by Marinus van Reymerswaele

Marinus van Reymerswaele · 1541-01-01

This is Saint Jerome in His Study by Marinus van Reymerswaele, painted in 1541 and housed at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp. The artist achieved a stunningly realistic depiction of texture, making oil paint seem like the actual materials.

Notice the piled books and papers, rendered with such detail they almost feel tangible. The artist painted the flow and weight of Saint Jerome's red robe, and you can almost feel the porous texture of the skull's bone. Even the candlelight seems to glow through the oil medium.

Marinus van Reymerswaele was known for his genre scenes and religious works. He operated a large workshop and produced many versions of popular themes like this one, demonstrating his mastery of oil painting.

It’s a quiet intensity, achieved through paint.

Details

Look at the piled books and papers.
Look at the piled books and papers.
How real they feel, yet are just paint.
How real they feel, yet are just paint.
His red robe flows with painted weight.
His red robe flows with painted weight.
See the texture of the skull's bone.
See the texture of the skull's bone.
He painted a dense, aged reality.
He painted a dense, aged reality.
Transcript

Look at the piled books and papers. How real they feel, yet are just paint. His red robe flows with painted weight. See the texture of the skull's bone. He painted a dense, aged reality. The candle flame glows through the oil.