Saint Jerome Reading
Dublin Core
Title
Saint Jerome Reading
Description
Giovanni Bellini was an Italian painter born in 1430 whose art represented stylistic innovations and concerns going on during the Renaissance [1]. He is known as one of the most influential Venetian paintings and through his career, there was an evolution in his art from purely religious works to works that had emphasis on landscape and naturalism [1].
A prime example of this evolution is seen in his painting called Saint Jerome Reading. In the painting, Saint Jerome can be seen in the bottom right corner secluded in nature reading some type of religious text. It is evident by his wrinkles and gray hair that the Saint is very old, which depicts his imminent wisdom. The Saint is placed in the corner to put more of an emphasis on the landscape and nature that surrounds him. Two bunnies can be seen playing below the skyline and a lion can even be seen at the heels of the Saint’s feet. Bellini can be seen putting emphasis on nature and the environment by making the Saint small and putting him in the corner of the painting. In the background, Bellini’s depicts a serene ocean with the architecture “floating” on the water, which depicts his incorporation of the magnificent aspects of the city of Venice [2]. In the foreground, the Saint is surrounded by what looks like many natural landmarks that are very detailed and chiseled to once again show the beauty of nature. The contrast in colors in both the background and foreground shows Bellini’s emphasis on his subject, but also shows the importance he puts on nature and landscape. Bellini’s places the Saint in this peaceful atmosphere to illustrate his seclusion and devotion to his religious studies [2].
Bellini painted many works portraying Saint Jerome, which each progressed over time [3]. A common theme was placing importance on the nature and surroundings around the Saint. This painting, in particular, portrayed Saint Jerome as a holy, religious man studying in the open, beautiful nature of Venice.
[1] Hendy, Phillip, “Giovanni Bellini,” Encyclopedia Britannica, 1, 2
[2] Betling, Hans, "St. Jerome in Venice: Giovanni Bellini and the Dream of Solitary Life," 6-8
[3] Mariolina Olivari, “Giovanni Bellini,” Pittori del Rinacscimento, 1
A prime example of this evolution is seen in his painting called Saint Jerome Reading. In the painting, Saint Jerome can be seen in the bottom right corner secluded in nature reading some type of religious text. It is evident by his wrinkles and gray hair that the Saint is very old, which depicts his imminent wisdom. The Saint is placed in the corner to put more of an emphasis on the landscape and nature that surrounds him. Two bunnies can be seen playing below the skyline and a lion can even be seen at the heels of the Saint’s feet. Bellini can be seen putting emphasis on nature and the environment by making the Saint small and putting him in the corner of the painting. In the background, Bellini’s depicts a serene ocean with the architecture “floating” on the water, which depicts his incorporation of the magnificent aspects of the city of Venice [2]. In the foreground, the Saint is surrounded by what looks like many natural landmarks that are very detailed and chiseled to once again show the beauty of nature. The contrast in colors in both the background and foreground shows Bellini’s emphasis on his subject, but also shows the importance he puts on nature and landscape. Bellini’s places the Saint in this peaceful atmosphere to illustrate his seclusion and devotion to his religious studies [2].
Bellini painted many works portraying Saint Jerome, which each progressed over time [3]. A common theme was placing importance on the nature and surroundings around the Saint. This painting, in particular, portrayed Saint Jerome as a holy, religious man studying in the open, beautiful nature of Venice.
[1] Hendy, Phillip, “Giovanni Bellini,” Encyclopedia Britannica, 1, 2
[2] Betling, Hans, "St. Jerome in Venice: Giovanni Bellini and the Dream of Solitary Life," 6-8
[3] Mariolina Olivari, “Giovanni Bellini,” Pittori del Rinacscimento, 1
Creator
Giovanni Bellini
Source
Hendy, Philip. “Giovanni Bellini.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., January 29, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Giovanni-Bellini-Italian-painter.
Belting, Hans. "St. Jerome in Venice: Giovanni Bellini and the Dream of Solitary Life." I Tatti Studies in the Italian Renaissance 17, no. 1 (2014): 5-33. Accessed October 27, 2020. doi:10.1086/676482.
Mariolina Olivari, Giovanni Bellini, in AA.VV., Pittori del Rinascimento, Scala, Firenze 2007.
Giovanni Bellini, Venetian. 1505. Saint Jerome Reading. Place: The National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), Gift of The Samuel H. Kress Foundation. https://library.artstor.org/asset/ANGA_KRESSIG_10312335544.
Belting, Hans. "St. Jerome in Venice: Giovanni Bellini and the Dream of Solitary Life." I Tatti Studies in the Italian Renaissance 17, no. 1 (2014): 5-33. Accessed October 27, 2020. doi:10.1086/676482.
Mariolina Olivari, Giovanni Bellini, in AA.VV., Pittori del Rinascimento, Scala, Firenze 2007.
Giovanni Bellini, Venetian. 1505. Saint Jerome Reading. Place: The National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), Gift of The Samuel H. Kress Foundation. https://library.artstor.org/asset/ANGA_KRESSIG_10312335544.
Publisher
Giovanni Bellini, Venetian. 1505. Saint Jerome Reading. Place: The National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), Gift of The Samuel H. Kress Foundation.
Date
1505
Contributor
Raj Kumar
Rights
Use of this image is in accordance with the Artstor Terms & Conditions
The National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), Gift of The Samuel H. Kress Foundation.
The National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), Gift of The Samuel H. Kress Foundation.
Format
Oil on Panel, 47 cm x 37.5 cm
Type
Painting
Coverage
National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C, USA
Citation
Giovanni Bellini
, “Saint Jerome Reading,” ARTHIST 89S - Visual Culture of Venice - Fall 2020, accessed October 22, 2026, https://venice.dahvc.org/fall-2020/items/show/131.