Carved, lacquered, and gilded wood high relief, depicting Saint Jerome in an intense scene of meditation and penance. The saint, wrapped in golden drapery with refined folds, is shown on a rock, clutching in his right hand the stone with which he struck his chest, a symbol of his spiritual asceticism. At his feet are highly impactful iconographic elements: the head of a lion, his faithful companion, a golden skull that recalls the transience of life, and the book of the Vulgate, his famous translation of the Bible.
A 17th-century Venetian work, characterized by meticulous craftsmanship and extraordinary expressive rendering, which enhances the pathos and depth of the saint's figure.
Venice, 17th century, 30 x 40 cm h
