St. Jerome Praying 1500

Hieronymus Bosch's "St. Jerome Praying" (c. 1500) depicts the saint in a moment of deep contemplation, kneeling in a rocky landscape. Bosch's signature style is evident in the intricate details and fantastical imagery, including a strange, skeletal tree in the background and a lion, a symbol of St. Jerome, at his feet. This oil painting, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent, exemplifies the Northern Renaissance's fascination with detailed observation and symbolism, showcasing Bosch's unique ability to blend the sacred and the surreal.