Antique religious painting from the 17th century, Penitent Saint Jerome

COD 11497. A refined 17th-century Italian painting. Oil on canvas artwork depicting the Penitent Saint Jerome, one of the Four Doctors of the Church. The saint is depicted half-length, naked, wrapped in a magnificently painted drape. In his right hand, he holds a stone, an instrument with which he beat his chest as a sign of mortification. In his left, he holds a large open book, presumably the Latin translation of the Bible he himself wrote. Beside him, a wooden cross can be glimpsed, while above, a trumpet appears, an iconographic reference to the Last Judgment. The face is the true emotional center, with an intense gaze and a flowing beard, rendered with vibrant, luminous brushstrokes. A hermit and humanist, a supreme example of harmony between ancient knowledge and Christian virtue, he was a beloved subject for aristocratic audiences, often depicted in small-scale works intended for private devotion. A painting of remarkable pictorial quality that is part of mid-17th-century central-northern Italian painting. An artwork of strong spiritual and decorative impact, perfect for a private study or library, ideal for collectors of Italian Baroque paintings. Splendid 20th-century gilded wood frame, with some signs of aging. The painting has already been restored with re-lining, replacement of the stretcher, and recoloring in small spots, but is in overall good condition. Internal dimensions: H 82 X W 66 cm.