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Workshop of Joachim Patinir, 'Saint Jerome in a Rocky Landscape', about 1515

About the work

Overview

This small picture shows two episodes from the life of Saint Jerome. At the front, the saint sits under a lean-to shelter and removes a large thorn from a lion’s paw. In gratitude the lion remained with him in the wilderness and after he went back to monastic life. On a rocky platform behind, the saint appears again, dressed as a cardinal, with two men leading camels and a donkey. The men are merchants who stole the monastery’s donkey; the lion recovered it.

The painting has been cut down on the right. It originally looked like a painting in Wuppertal (Von der Heydt Museum) which includes other incidents from the story. There are several variants of this subject, one of which, now in the Prado, Madrid, is signed by Joachim Patinir. It is possible that all were being worked on at much the same time in his workshop.

Key facts

Details

Full title
Saint Jerome in a Rocky Landscape
Artist
Workshop of Joachim Patinir
Artist dates
active 1515; died not later than 1524
Date made
about 1515
Medium and support
oil on wood
Dimensions
36 × 33.7 cm
Acquisition credit
Bequeathed by Mrs Henry Oppenheimer, 1936
Inventory number
NG4826
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection
Frame
20th-century Replica Frame

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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