Spanish or Italian school of the 17th century.
"Penitent Saint Jerome".
Oil on canvas. Re-coloured.
With faults and repainting.
Measurements: 192 x 141 cm; 194 x 144 cm (frame).
This canvas deals with the theme of Saint Jerome penitent in the desert through a baroque and open composition. The saint is depicted full-length, highlighted by the contrasting lighting. Although it is not exactly visible due to the darkness of the painting, he is located in a wooded setting. Returning to the centre of the scene, it is worth noting the saint's posture, concentrated as he gazes at the crucifix he holds in his left hand, next to a table on which rests a skull. Next to him, the lion's head alludes to an episode from The Golden Legend. In it, it is narrated that one day, while explaining the Bible to the monks in his convent, Jerome saw a lion limping towards him. He removed the thorn from its paw, and from then on he kept it in his service, instructing it to look after his donkey while it grazed. Some merchants stole the donkey, and the lion recovered it, returning it to the saint without hurting the animal. The influence of Sebastián Martínez Domedel can be seen in the way the subject is resolved.