St Jerome

About this artwork

…; purchased from the dealer J. Böhler, Munich, by Prof. Dr Otto Lanz (1865-1935), Amsterdam, 1909;{File RMA.} his widow, Anna Theresia Elisabeth Lanz - Willi (1870 - 1954), Amsterdam, 1935; from whom, CHF 2,000,000 and fl. 350,000, with xx other paintings, to Hans Posse (1879-1942), for Adolf Hitler’s Führermuseum, Linz, through the mediation of the dealer N. Katz, 1941;{Van Os 1978, p. 167.} war recuperation, SNK, 20 November 1945 (inv. no. NK 2324);{Provenance from 1934 to 1945 reconstructed ...

Art Historical Context

**St. Jerome** by Bernardino da Brescia (active c. 1500–1520) is a compelling oil on canvas painting from the early 16th century, 77.5 × 116 cm. This work captures the revered Church Father St. Jerome, often portrayed in scenes of scholarly penance amid a rocky desert landscape, symbolizing his of the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate) and his life of ascetic devotion. Created during the Italian High Renaissance, the painting exemplifies the period's growing mastery of oil techniques, which allowed for richer colors, subtle glazes, and lifelike depth compared to traditional tempera on panel—making canvas a innovative choice for portable, luminous altarpieces and devotional images. Bernardino da Brescia, a painter from the Lombardy region, contributed to the vibrant artistic circles influenced by masters like Leonardo da Vinci, blending naturalism with spiritual intensity. St. Jerome's iconic attributes—likely including his cardinal's hat, lion companion, and skull—invite viewers to reflect on themes of mortality and redemption, central to Renaissance humanism. This treasure at the Rijksmuseum has a storied past: acquired in 1909, it was seized during World War II for Adolf Hitler's planned Führermuseum in Linz but was recuperated by Dutch authorities in 1945 and restored to public view by 1960. Today, it stands as a testament to art's resilience, bridging Renaissance piety with modern appreciation.