Saint Jerome, Workshop of Alessandro Bonvicino, called Moretto (Brescia, circa 1498 – 1554)

Workshop of Alessandro Bonvicino, called Moretto (Brescia, circa 1498 – 1554) Saint Jerome Oil on canvas 85 x 68 - With frame 100 x 82 cm. Complete details of the work (click HERE) A valuable portrait of Saint Jerome, a Doctor of the Church who lived between the 4th and 5th centuries, depicted here according to the typical iconography that portrays him in the dual role of a penitent hermit in the desert and a humanist engaged in reading, in a desolate and wild landscape. This multifaceted figure of Saint Jerome was very popular in Lombardy between the 15th and 16th centuries, representing the supreme harmony between classical learning and Christian virtue. It thus became a favorite subject for a refined and educated audience, often illustrated in smaller works intended for private devotion. We see him with an intense and pensive gaze, directed towards the crucifix, his canonical iconographic attribute and symbol of his penance in the desert, as he strikes his chest with a stone. Beside him is the lion, a symbol of tamed passions but also of his spiritual strength, and the skull, a 'memento mori' (remember you must die) alluding to the passage of time and emphasizing the transience of earthly life. The Cardinal's hat is also hung up, recalling his role as Doctor of the Church and translator of the Bible. This is an artwork of excellent quality for its clarity of illustration, pictorial refinement, and chromatic sensibility, suggesting an execution from the Lombard area around the end of the 16th century, and precisely indebted to the models created by Alessandro Bonvicino, called Moretto (Brescia, circa 1498 – 1554), one of the leading artists of the early Brescian Renaissance. Devotional paintings like this constituted one of Bonvicino's most significant productions, and the fact that there are no strictly analogous images suggests that the canvas should be included in the complex catalog of works executed by the workshop, presumably under the master's own supervision. The painting strongly conveys Venetian influence: both the painterly style and the coloring, dominated by the bright green of the drapery that envelops the Saint, are elements that recall the works of Titian. Behind Saint Jerome, a vast hilly landscape is visible with a clear sky dotted with a few clouds, characterized by a vibrant blue, typical of the Brescian artist. The figure of Saint Jerome appears frequently in the painter's works in various illustrative modes: in particular, the chromatic tone, light, and overall hue of the image are reminiscent of the Saint Jerome in Meditation from the collection of the Liechtenstein Museum (inv GE 313, oil on board, 39 × 31 cm., URL: https://www.liechtensteincollections.at/sammlungen-online/der-heilige-hieronymus4, image 1). Other works in his catalog with this subject include the Saint Jerome from the Borromeo collection on Isola Bella, datable between 1540 and 1545 (image 2 - https://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/opere-arte/schede/C0050-00086/), or in the Madonna and Child with Saint Jerome in a Private Collection (image 3 - https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Madonna_con_bambino_e_san_Girolamo.jpg). The figure, face, and posture evoke Saint Mark the Evangelist from the Duomo Vecchio in Brescia (image 4 - https://catalogo.beniculturali.it/detail/HistoricOrArtisticProperty/0300044732). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The images were taken using a photographic set and professional lighting. The painting is sold complete with a pleasant frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet. In case of purchase of the artwork by non-Italian clients, an export permit will be required, which takes approximately 10/20 days. Our gallery will handle the entire process until its obtainment. All costs for this procedure are included. We handle and organize the transport of purchased artworks, both within Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. Should you wish to view this or other works in person, we would be delighted to welcome you to our new gallery in Riva del Garda, at Viale Giuseppe Canella 18. We look forward to seeing you! Contact us for any information or to arrange a visit, we will be happy to respond. Follow us also on: https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/