St Jerome in the Desert c. 1640 - 1645

David Teniers the Younger’s “St Jerome in the Desert,” c. 1640-1645, depicts the influential early Christian theologian St. Jerome in a contemplative state. Located in the Städel Museum, the painting depicts Jerome amidst a rocky landscape, seated and engaged in study with open books at his feet. The scene is characterized by a sense of solitude and introspective reflection, typical of the saint’s life in the wilderness. The inclusion of the skull, a symbol of mortality, further underscores Jerome’s focus on the ephemeral nature of earthly life.