Saint Jerome

Bartolomeo Biscaino

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts a seated bearded man shown from the waist up. He is hunched over a book that he appears to have been studying. The man's facial features are defined by a high forehead, a prominent nose, and a long flowing beard. His hair is sparse and gathered towards the back of his head. He is draped in a cloth that wraps around his waist, leaving his upper torso exposed. Nearby, there is a skull resting on the open book he is leaning towards, and another book is partially visible at his feet. Next to the man, a lion is peering intently, positioned slightly lower and behind him. The background suggests a rocky, cave-like setting with a few stray branches and stones littered around.