Saint Jerome in his cell
Jan Matsys·1524
Historical Context
Jan Matsys, son of the Antwerp master Quinten Metsys, painted this Saint Jerome in his Cell around 1524. The Church Father Jerome, who translated the Bible into Latin, was frequently depicted in his study as a model of scholarly devotion. Jan continued and developed his father's artistic legacy, eventually becoming a major painter in his own right. The painting is in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Technical Analysis
The scholar-saint is shown surrounded by books and writing implements in a detailed interior setting. The meticulous rendering of the study's contents reflects the Metsys workshop tradition of combining devotional subjects with proto-still-life elements.
