Saint Jerome Writing 1607

Caravaggio’s "Saint Jerome Writing" (1607) depicts the biblical scholar Saint Jerome, a patron saint of translators, scholars, and writers. The artwork is a masterpiece of Baroque art, showcasing Caravaggio's signature use of chiaroscuro, a dramatic contrast of light and shadow, to create a sense of depth and realism. The image features a bare-chested Saint Jerome, seated in a dimly lit room, his weathered face illuminated by a single light source. The skull in the foreground serves as a memento mori, a reminder of mortality, encouraging reflection on life's impermanence. The painting is now located in St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, Malta.