Saint Jerome Reading c. 1476

Alvise Vivarini’s *Saint Jerome Reading* (c. 1476) depicts the revered scholar and saint Jerome in a contemplative pose, immersed in his studies. Jerome is seated on a rocky outcrop, dressed in the traditional blue robe of a monk, with a red book held in his hand. The landscape behind him suggests a secluded, peaceful setting, with a river winding through a mountainous valley. The presence of a lion lurking in the shadows adds a sense of mystery and symbolic weight to the composition, echoing the legend of Jerome's taming of the fierce animal. This small-scale painting showcases Vivarini’s meticulous attention to detail and the mastery of color and light characteristic of Venetian painting in the late 15th century.