St Jerome Reading in an Italian Landscape, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1653

St Jerome Reading in an Italian Landscape, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1653

etching, h 261mm × w 210mm More details

St Jerome was regularly depicted as a scholar in a study. Here Rembrandt decided to situate him reading peacefully in the open air and wearing a straw hat. He has taken off his sandals, reinforcing the impression that the saint has made himself comfortable in the hot sun. Standing guard behind him is a robust, convincingly portrayed lion.