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Saint Jerome hears the trumpet of the Last Judgement
(17th century)
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
49.3 × 37.5 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1931
Gallery location
16th & 17th Century Gallery - Painting and Sculpture
Mezzanine linked to Level 1, NGV International
About this work
In 2019 a conservation treatment on this painting revealed a trumpet in the upper left corner that was previously hidden beneath overpaint. This motif identifies the subject as Saint Jerome –a cardinal, which is why the fabric depicted here is red – hearing the trumpet of the Last Judgement. Saint Jerome (c. 342–347 – 420) was a Christian theologian and writer, known for producing the first Latin translation of the Bible, the Vulgate. He spent four years living as a hermit in the desert outside Bethlehem, devoting himself to study and religious contemplation. In addition to revealing the identity of the work’s subject, the removal of overpaint and layers of discoloured varnish allows the considerable skill of the artist to be appreciated. Perhaps it may now be possible to identify who created this typically lively Baroque painting.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Italy
Accession Number
4564-3
Department
International Painting
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Subjects (general)
Human Figures
Subjects (specific)
beards busts (general, figures) heads (representations) men (male humans) studies (visual works) three-quarter views