Saint Jerome

Saint Jerome is a profound religious painting created by the Greek master El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos) between 1610 and 1614. Executed in oil on canvas, this work exemplifies the highly expressive and dramatic late style of the artist, known for its elongated forms and saturated, ethereal coloring. The subject is Saint Jerome (c. 347-420), one of the four Doctors of the Church, who is traditionally depicted either as a penitent hermit or, as seen here, in his capacity as a dedicated scholar studying the Scriptures.

Although permanently established in Toledo, Spain, Greco consistently filtered his work through elements characteristic of his Greek cultural heritage and early training in Byzantine icon painting. He merged this foundation with the intense colorism of the Venetian Renaissance and the formal distortions typical of Mannerism. This late period, which falls within the years 1601 to 1650, shows the artist at the height of his powers, creating figures that appear to vibrate with spiritual energy.

The painting emphasizes Jerome's intellectual and spiritual intensity through Greco’s signature technique of energetic, visible brushwork and highly theatrical lighting, which illuminates the saint's powerful, ascetic face against a darkened background. The scholar wears the red robes of a cardinal, though the title was anachronistic for the historical Jerome, reflecting an established pictorial convention. The intensity and mystical fervor evident in this piece make it a crucial example of devotional art of the era.

Completed just a few years before the artist’s death, the canvas remains a pivotal example of Greco's contribution to Spanish painting. This exceptional work is housed in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. As a historical masterwork from the early 17th century, high-resolution images and fine art prints are often made available through museum and public domain initiatives, allowing broad access to this iconic vision by Greco.