St Jerome Essay

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St Jerome in his study is an iconic painting, one of three prints referred to as Durer’s master engravings and it represents the best achievement in adopting two separates methods of painting. An evocative lighting, contemplative surrounding, and a detailed interior make the painting exquisite and remarkable. (Bussagli 2014)A realistic scenario surrounds the saint, including writing material and devotional material gives the saint a persuasive presence. The painter composed the print using rigid mathematical concepts, contributing to an intellectual feeling, spiritual discipline and demonstrated his advanced knowledge.
Antonella de Messina was born in Sicily, Italy. He was a student of Niccolò Colantonio at Naples, where he was introduced to …show more content…

He painted the St Jerome in his study around this period. Jerome spent many years as a pertinent and alone in the deserts of the Middle East, in 385 he traveled from Rome, Egypt and to the holy land and finally settling in Bethlehem. Antonne exposure to Christianity from childhood influenced greatly his works.
On the right of Jerome is a hallway of illuminated arches, there is a lion that stands guard, this is a reference to the famous story that saint Jerome recuperated and befriended a lion that had a thistle stuck in its paw and made him a sentry in his religious community. The lion depicts an image of valor, although it may represent Jerome's ferocious torch of confidence.
A peacock, a partridge, and a silver water bowl decorate cryptically the bottom front the painting. A partridge was a bird considered promiscuous, like a thief or a cat, known for stealing eggs and raising chicks not her own, it is clearly condemned in the Old Testament. While the gorgeous peacock is associated with vanity, a peek at his ugly feet depicts Jerome as a humble person. The flesh of the peacock was often thought as incorruptible, the peacock signifies eternal life preached in the bible. (Bussagli

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