The artwork titled “Saint Jerome Reading” was crafted by Georges de La Tour circa 1635 to 1638. This religious painting, executed in oil on canvas, measures 93 by 122 centimeters and is a quintessential piece of the Tenebrism movement. It currently resides in the esteemed Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
Depicted with a profound sense of quietude and introspection, the artwork presents Saint Jerome engrossed in his reading. The composition illustrates the saint, cloaked in a vivid red garment, which provides a warm contrast to the dark, shadowy background—a characteristic feature of Tenebrism, where stark chiaroscuro is used to dramatic effect. Saint Jerome, known for his scholarly pursuits, particularly the translation of the Bible into Latin, is portrayed with focused concentration, his finger pensively resting on his chin as he reads a small booklet.
In the forefront of the painting, we observe an assemblage of symbolic objects associated with the saint. A skull, symbolizing mortality and penitence, rests beside an open, larger tome—likely representing the Bible or scholarly texts—along with an inkwell and quill, tools of his intellectual labor. These elements are rendered with meticulous attention to detail and evoke the essence of Saint Jerome’s devotion to faith and learning.
Georges de La Tour’s masterful use of light and shadow not only highlights the solemnity of the subject but also enhances the tactile qualities of materials and the sense of volume in Saint Jerome’s figure. The artwork epitomizes the spiritual and ascetic life of one of Christianity’s most revered saints, conveying an atmosphere of meditative solitude that invites the viewer to reflect on the themes of devotion and erudition.
