St Jerome 1710

"St. Jerome" is a 1710 oil painting by Dutch artist Pieter van der Werff, renowned for his meticulous attention to detail and soft, luminous palette. The painting depicts St. Jerome, a prominent early Christian theologian, seated in a cave, lost in contemplation of an open book. He is surrounded by the symbols of his life: a skull, an hourglass, and a scroll, reminding viewers of the transient nature of life and the importance of study. The painting's intimate scale and somber mood showcase van der Werff's mastery of Baroque portraiture, capturing St. Jerome's contemplative nature with remarkable depth and realism.