Italy, Siena(?) / c. 1450
Virgin and Child with Saint Jerome and Saint Catherine of Alexandria
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Virgin and Child with Saint Jerome and Saint Catherine of Alexandria as painting (Italy, Siena(?) · c. 1450).
The figure to the right of the Christ child is Saint Jerome, identifiable by the rock he holds to his chest.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as tempera and gold on wood panel and credits Carolino da Viterbo (Italian).
The museum's collection notes: In his right hand, the Christ child grasps a stem of roses. The beauty and fragrance of roses symbolize heaven, while their thorny stems allude to the crown of thorns and Christ's suffering. The bird he holds in his left hand symbolizes the human soul. The elaborate haloes with Latin inscriptions identify the figures and help organize the composition. The names of Christ, Saint Jerome, and Saint Catherine of Alexandria appear in abbreviated form. The Madonna's halo proclaims her worthiness to bear the Son of God: "Hail, full of grace," while the inscription at the top is one of her most popular titles: "Merciful Mother."
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtVirgin and Child with Saint Jerome and Saint Catherine of AlexandriaOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.