Minneapolis Institute of Art
St. Jerome in the Desert
Circle of Paolo PaganiLinkedCulture matchlcp-f9c6ce5a87de
- Date
- c. 1700
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Department
- European Art
- Institution
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
- Object ID
- 107290
From LinkedCulture
Around 1700, an unknown Italian painter captured Saint Jerome alone in the Syrian desert, gripping a crucifix in one raised hand while the other rests on a human skull, a classic memento mori reminding viewers that death waits for everyone. A vivid crimson cloth cuts across his powerful, half-naked frame against a near-black background. Attributed to the circle of Paolo Pagani, this oil on canvas traces back compositionally to a celebrated 1602 engraving by Agostino Carracci, showing how one image of solitary devotion echoed through generations of Italian painting.
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From the Minneapolis Institute of Art record
The composition of this St. Jerome by an unknown Italian artist derives ultimately from a famous engraving of 1602 by Agostino Carracci (1557-1602). Although the overall spirit of the work is Bolognese and reminiscent of Ludovico Carracci (1555-1619), the loose handling, especially in the saint's head, indicates a date of execution in the late 17th century or early 18th century. This scene depicts St. Jerome in a secluded Syrian Desert cave to which he withdrew around 378. During the years he spent in the desert, he studied Hebrew, which he later used when translating the Old and New Testaments into Latin. St. Jerome holds a crucifix in one hand while the other rests on a skull; attributes that served as reminders: the crucifix represents his devotion to Christ while the skull acts as a memento mori , a reminder of death, and the vanity of earthly pursuits. Italy, Europe
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Provenance & credit
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- Credit line
- Gift of A. Richard and Martha R. Olson
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