Wax Modeller Simon as St. Jerome 1665

Heinrich Dittmers' "Wax Modeller Simon as St. Jerome" (1665), now housed in the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, portrays the revered early Christian theologian, St. Jerome, in a somber and contemplative mood. The artwork is a striking example of Baroque portraiture, emphasizing the subject's introspective nature through the use of chiaroscuro, with strong contrasts of light and shadow. St. Jerome, with his prominent beard and intense gaze, holds a skull, a symbolic reminder of mortality, reflecting on his work and the ephemeral nature of life. This painting showcases Dittmers' masterful use of detail and realism, portraying the sitter's physicality and emotional state with compelling accuracy.