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Saint Jerome by Hendrick ter Brugghen

Saint Jerome

Hendrick ter Brugghen · 1624

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“Stop to appreciate the dramatic lighting and intense realism of this intimate portrait of Saint Jerome. The artist uses light and shadow to draw you into the saint's moment of profound contemplation.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

In Hendrick ter Brugghen's "Saint Jerome," a solitary figure emerges from deep shadow, his face illuminated by a dramatic, unseen light source. The saint, traditionally depicted in his study translating the Bible, is shown here with an intense, almost pained expression, his gaze directed upward and slightly to the side. His aged skin and prominent veins are rendered with a striking realism, a hallmark of the Utrecht Caravaggisti movement, which emphasized naturalism and strong contrasts of light and dark. This painting captures a moment of profound contemplation or spiritual revelation, drawing the viewer into the intimate experience of the saint. The limited color palette and focus on a single, half-length figure amplify the emotional intensity of the scene, making it a powerful example of early 17th-century Dutch religious painting.

DETAILS
Artist
Hendrick ter Brugghen
Date
1624
Medium
Oil on canvas
Location
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
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What to Notice

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Saint Jerome

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01

Upturned weathered face

Follow the bald, deeply wrinkled head tilted upward. Strong light falls on his forehead and nose, and his upward gaze reads as a moment of private prayer.

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02

Stone in the fist

Look at the clenched fist at his chest. It seems to hold a small pale stone, a traditional attribute of Jerome, who struck his breast in penitence.

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03

Hand on the skull

Lower left, his hand rests on a skull. It is a reminder of death and the fleeting nature of life, a classic sign of penitence.

3 of 5 on the painting
04

Sinewy aged arms

Study the stretched tendons and veins of the forearm and the bony shoulder. Light and shadow turn old, thin flesh into something tangible.

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05

Billowing red cloak

The saturated red drapery fills the lower half in broad folds with sharp light edges. It warms the pale skin and recalls the red robe traditionally given to Jerome as a cardinal.

5 of 5 on the painting
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THE ARTIST

Hendrick ter Brugghen

1588–1629 · Dutch Republic

Hendrick ter Brugghen brought Caravaggio's dramatic light and emotional realism from Italy to the Dutch Republic, profoundly shaping Dutch Golden Age painting.

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MORE FROM THIS ARTIST

Further Works by ter Brugghen

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The Calling of Saint Matthew The Calling of Saint Matthew 1609 · Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest Pilate washing his hands Pilate washing his hands 1617 · National Museum in Lublin Roman Charity Roman Charity 1622 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art A Boy Playing the Lute ("Hearing", One of a Series of the Five Senses) A Boy Playing the Lute ("Hearing", One of a Series of the Five Senses) 1620 · Nationalmuseum A Girl Holding a Glass ("Taste", One of a Series of the Five Senses) A Girl Holding a Glass ("Taste", One of a Series of the Five Senses) 1620 · Nationalmuseum Boy Playing a Fife Boy Playing a Fife 1620 · Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister Calling of Saint Matthew Calling of Saint Matthew 1621 · Centraal Museum Saint John writing his Gospel Saint John writing his Gospel 1621 · Museum De Waag
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More works to explore

Beyond ter Brugghen: works from the same years.

Portrait of a Woman, Probably Susanna Lunden (Susanna Fourment, 1599–1628) Same era · 1600s–1630s Portrait of a Woman, Probably Susanna Lunden (Susanna Fourment, 1599–1628) Peter Paul Rubens · 1625 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art Musical Company Same era · 1600s–1630s Musical Company Rembrandt · 1626 · Museum De Lakenhal Petrus Scriverius (1576–1660) Same era · 1600s–1630s Petrus Scriverius (1576–1660) Frans Hals · 1626 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art Kitchen Scene Same era · 1600s–1630s Kitchen Scene Diego Velázquez · 1618 · Art Institute of Chicago The Adoration of the Shepherds Same era · 1600s–1630s The Adoration of the Shepherds El Greco · 1610 Southern Barbarians Same era · 1600s–1630s Southern Barbarians Artist Unknown - The Mercat Cross, Aberdeen · 1625 · Art Institute of Chicago An Elegant Company Same era · 1600s–1630s An Elegant Company Samuel Alcock & Company · 1632 · Art Institute of Chicago Winter Landscape with Snowfall near Antwerp Same era · 1600s–1630s Winter Landscape with Snowfall near Antwerp Jan Brueghel the Elder · 1610
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