The artwork titled “St. Jerome” is a religious painting created by Hans Memling between 1485 and 1490. This piece, part of the Northern Renaissance movement, was rendered using oil on oak. The artwork measures 88 by 52 cm and is housed at the Kunstmuseum Basel in Basel, Switzerland.
In the artwork, St. Jerome is depicted in a landscape setting, kneeling before a crucifix. His bare chest and the expressions on his face suggest intense prayer and devotion. To his left, a lion, symbolizing the saint’s association with taming the wild beast, lies calmly. The rocky, hilly landscape in the background provides depth, and the distant structures suggest a horizon. The red cloak draped beneath St. Jerome contrasts starkly with the natural tones surrounding him, drawing attention to the central figure. The meticulous detail, characteristic of the Northern Renaissance, is evident in the textures of the rocks, the musculature of the saint, and the foliage in the background.
