Saint Jerome

Joos van Cleve's depictions of Saint Jerome are distinguished by an exceptionally large number of versions and replicas that emanated from his studio and other artists within his milieu, all with variations in the details and background. However, the composition was not strictly of Van Cleve's own invention, but rather borrows heavily from a Saint Jerome painted by Dürer in Antwerp in 1521 during his Netherlandish sojourn (Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon). The pose of the Saint, supporting his head with his right hand while pressing down on a skull with the index finger of his left hand, is taken directly from Dürer. Saint Jerome is best known for his translation of the bible into Latin and it is the bible that is positioned in the immediate foreground, again according to Dürer's design. Van Cleve embellished his depictions with details such as the snuffed-out candle - a symbol of the transience of earthly life, and the spectacles on the table. The neutral background of the present picture is closer to Dürer's prototype, which only includes a crucifix on the left, than to Van Cleve's depictions which show the Saint within a defined space illuminated by a window on the left and with more symbolic objects on the walls.