Antique Painting Of Saint Jerome The Penitent, 17th Century
Artist: Xviie Siècle
17th century
Saint Jerome
Oil on cardboard, 35 × 28 cm
Frame 41 × 34 cm
The painting under examination depicts Saint Jerome, one of the most common subjects in devotional painting between the 16th and 17th centuries. The saint is depicted in a half-length portrait, captured in a moment of intense spiritual concentration, with a face marked by age, a long flowing beard, and a partially bare torso. The stern expression and the vigorous profile of the head lend the figure a strong psychological tension, accentuated by the dark background and the raking light that shapes the volumes through a marked chiaroscuro.
The iconography refers to the theme of Saint Jerome as a penitent and hermit, traditionally depicted in the desert during his years of meditation and study of the Holy Scriptures. Although the composition focuses almost exclusively on the saint’s torso, several conventional attributes of his depiction are discernible: partial nudity, alluding to his ascetic life; a scroll, referring to the translation of the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate); the stone in his right hand, held close to his chest, evoking his meditation and penance.
The work is fully embedded in the figurative culture of 17th-century Italy, a period in which the representation of saints was profoundly transformed by the principles of the Counter-Reformation. After the Council of Trent (1545–1563), sacred art was called upon to prioritize images of immediate clarity, capable of evoking emotional engagement and devotion. In this context, the figure of Saint Jerome became one of the ideal models of Christian contemplation, study, and mortification.
The painting’s use of light, based on the contrast between the figure emerging from the shadows and the dark background, reveals the assimilation of naturalistic models prevalent in Italy during the early and mid-17th century. The incisive rendering of the head, the accentuated physiognomic characterization, and the warm palette, dominated by browns and reddish earth tones, recall the widespread influence of Caravaggio’s style and its numerous regional variations.
Probably intended for private devotion or a small domestic oratory—a common type in the art market of the time—the work is particularly intense in its choice to focus attention on the face and essential gestures, foregoing secondary narrative elements to foster a direct relationship between the viewer and the sacred figure.
The painter demonstrates a strong ability for psychological synthesis, focusing on the expressive power of the gaze and the ascetic character of the saint. The composition, intimate and austere, effectively meets the devotional needs of post-Tridentine culture.
- All our works are accompanied by a detailed certificate of authenticity.
- Professional packaging and insured shipping to ensure maximum safety during transport.
- For further information, please do not hesitate to contact us +39 329 319 4887 – info@dequart.com
- Option for VIDEO CALLS and in-person viewings by appointment in MILAN and BORGOMANERO (NO).
- Additional information and photos: www.dequart.com IG - FB @dequ.art
Saint Jerome
Oil on cardboard, 35 × 28 cm
Frame 41 × 34 cm
The painting under examination depicts Saint Jerome, one of the most common subjects in devotional painting between the 16th and 17th centuries. The saint is depicted in a half-length portrait, captured in a moment of intense spiritual concentration, with a face marked by age, a long flowing beard, and a partially bare torso. The stern expression and the vigorous profile of the head lend the figure a strong psychological tension, accentuated by the dark background and the raking light that shapes the volumes through a marked chiaroscuro.
The iconography refers to the theme of Saint Jerome as a penitent and hermit, traditionally depicted in the desert during his years of meditation and study of the Holy Scriptures. Although the composition focuses almost exclusively on the saint’s torso, several conventional attributes of his depiction are discernible: partial nudity, alluding to his ascetic life; a scroll, referring to the translation of the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate); the stone in his right hand, held close to his chest, evoking his meditation and penance.
The work is fully embedded in the figurative culture of 17th-century Italy, a period in which the representation of saints was profoundly transformed by the principles of the Counter-Reformation. After the Council of Trent (1545–1563), sacred art was called upon to prioritize images of immediate clarity, capable of evoking emotional engagement and devotion. In this context, the figure of Saint Jerome became one of the ideal models of Christian contemplation, study, and mortification.
The painting’s use of light, based on the contrast between the figure emerging from the shadows and the dark background, reveals the assimilation of naturalistic models prevalent in Italy during the early and mid-17th century. The incisive rendering of the head, the accentuated physiognomic characterization, and the warm palette, dominated by browns and reddish earth tones, recall the widespread influence of Caravaggio’s style and its numerous regional variations.
Probably intended for private devotion or a small domestic oratory—a common type in the art market of the time—the work is particularly intense in its choice to focus attention on the face and essential gestures, foregoing secondary narrative elements to foster a direct relationship between the viewer and the sacred figure.
The painter demonstrates a strong ability for psychological synthesis, focusing on the expressive power of the gaze and the ascetic character of the saint. The composition, intimate and austere, effectively meets the devotional needs of post-Tridentine culture.
- All our works are accompanied by a detailed certificate of authenticity.
- Professional packaging and insured shipping to ensure maximum safety during transport.
- For further information, please do not hesitate to contact us +39 329 319 4887 – info@dequart.com
- Option for VIDEO CALLS and in-person viewings by appointment in MILAN and BORGOMANERO (NO).
- Additional information and photos: www.dequart.com IG - FB @dequ.art
1 150 €
Period: 17th century
Style: Louis 14th, Regency
Condition: Good condition
Material: Oil painting on cardboard
Length: 41
Width: 34
Reference (ID): 1775027
Availability: In stock
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