# Saint Jerome Penitent

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/greco-el-r8ef3afacca162f/saint-jerome-penitent-re6a1b214a3f831>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [GRECO, El](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/greco-el-r8ef3afacca162f>)
- Date: 1551-1600
- Technique: Oil on canvas, 166 x 110 cm

## Commentary

Endowed with an unsurpassed classical education, Jerome \(c. 342-420\) became an outstanding biblical scholar as well as the translator of the Bible into Latin \(the Vulgate\). During the Renaissance, paintings showing him either in his study or performing acts of penance in the wilderness adorned the walls of the homes of many humanists and scholars. El Greco painted both types. This painting is the final expression of El Greco&#39;s &#39;Saint in ecstasy&#39; \(compare &lt;A onclick=&#34;return OpenOther\(&#39;/html/g/greco\_el/21/2106grec.html&#39;\)&#34; HREF=&#34;/html/g/greco\_el/21/2106grec.html&#34;&gt;St Sebastian,&lt;/A&gt; &lt;A onclick=&#34;return OpenOther\(&#39;/html/g/greco\_el/06/0604grec.html&#39;\)&#34; HREF=&#34;/html/g/greco\_el/06/0604grec.html&#34;&gt;St Mary Magdalen&lt;/A&gt; and &lt;A onclick=&#34;return OpenOther\(&#39;/html/g/greco\_el/16/1605grec.html&#39;\)&#34; HREF=&#34;/html/g/greco\_el/16/1605grec.html&#34;&gt;St Ildefonso&lt;/A&gt;\). The pattern is still that of the &lt;A onclick=&#34;return OpenOther\(&#39;/html/g/greco\_el/06/0605grec.html&#39;\)&#34; HREF=&#34;/html/g/greco\_el/06/0605grec.html&#34;&gt;St Sebastian&lt;/A&gt; of his first years in Spain, and it was employed also for the &lt;A onclick=&#34;return OpenOther\(&#39;/html/g/greco\_el/12/1208grec.html&#39;\)&#34; HREF=&#34;/html/g/greco\_el/12/1208grec.html&#34;&gt;Christ of the Baptism.&lt;/A&gt;

## Related artworks

- [A Boy Blowing on an Ember to Light a Candle \(Soplón\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/greco-el-r8ef3afacca162f/a-boy-blowing-on-an-ember-to-light-a-candle-sopln-r2a0840a197cc6c>)
- [A Lady in a Fur Wrap](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/greco-el-r8ef3afacca162f/a-lady-in-a-fur-wrap-r17bc5af266ec1e>)
- [A Prelate](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/greco-el-r8ef3afacca162f/a-prelate-r6752ef04ade0b8>)
- [A View of Toledo \(detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/greco-el-r8ef3afacca162f/a-view-of-toledo-detail-rde83c353dd06aa>)
- [A View of Toledo](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/greco-el-r8ef3afacca162f/a-view-of-toledo-rc066c9db2d5956>)
- [Adoration of the Shepherds \(detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/greco-el-r8ef3afacca162f/adoration-of-the-shepherds-detail-r381069254ae37c>)
- [Adoration of the Shepherds](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/greco-el-r8ef3afacca162f/adoration-of-the-shepherds-r56f9b10b626e37>)
- [Adoration of the Shepherds](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/greco-el-r8ef3afacca162f/adoration-of-the-shepherds-rd06d926a03bd14>)
- [Allegory of the Camaldolese Order](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/greco-el-r8ef3afacca162f/allegory-of-the-camaldolese-order-rad53af523c9428>)
- [Altarpiece](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/greco-el-r8ef3afacca162f/altarpiece-r3f59efc9f08380>)
- [An Allegory with a Boy Lighting a Candle in the Company of an Ape and a Fool \(Fábula\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/greco-el-r8ef3afacca162f/an-allegory-with-a-boy-lighting-a-candle-in-the-company-of-an-ape-and-a-fool-fbula-r4b154dc2b33ffa>)
- [An Allegory with a Boy Lighting a Candle in the Company of an Ape and a Fool \(Fábula\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/greco-el-r8ef3afacca162f/an-allegory-with-a-boy-lighting-a-candle-in-the-company-of-an-ape-and-a-fool-fbula-rb252535edad9f2>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)