Spain / c. 1638–40
Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Saint Jerome as painting (Spain · c. 1638–40).
WHY IT’S INTERESTING
Ribera signed the painting on the spine of the book in which Jerome will write.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as oil on canvas and credits Jusepe de Ribera (Spanish, 1591–1652).
The museum's collection notes: Saint Jerome (about ad 347–420) translated biblical texts into Latin. Although he sometimes appears as a scholar in his study, Ribera represents him here as a penitent who withdrew to the desert, beating his chest with a stone to emulate Christ’s suffering and contemplating a skull symbolizing human vanity. Working in Naples, Ribera enthusiastically adapted Caravaggio’s characteristic use of light and dark and naturalistic models.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtSaint JeromeOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.