St Jerome 1575

Titian painted Saint Jerome with oils on canvas sometime in the mid-16th century. Here, the famous scholar is presented in the act of writing, presumably translating the Bible. What is more important is what this image meant to the artist and his social class. Titian was part of the Venetian school that flourished at this time. It made use of humanist ideas and was part of a growing social interest in science and philosophy. The painter makes use of visual codes such as light and darkness to create a powerful image. Consider how the light falls on the book and on the saint's body. The image has obvious religious connotations and depicts a moment of revelation. How might a historian read this image? I would look at what the image suggests about the role of religion in Venice at this time, drawing on a variety of social, cultural and institutional histories.