Jusepe de Ribera: Saint Jerome in penitence (1634)

(Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, Spain)

Today is my birthday so a painting of my namesake. This portrait was done by the Spanish artist Jusepe/ José de Ribera (1591-1652). the painting shows Saint Jerome, also known as Saint Hieronymus of Stridon. Saint Jerome (A.D. 347-420) is one of the four Latin Fathers of the Church (along with Saint Augustine, Ambrose, and Gregory the Great). He is particularly famous for translating the Bible into Latin, known as the Vulgate Bible. Jerome spent his 4 years in the desert as a hermit and he is usually shown in that manner. This painting shows the saint in penitence with a red cloak (the color of a cardinal, Jerome is in art always depicted as a cardinal although cardinals did not exist in the time of Jerome). Saint Jerome is the patronsaint of archeologists, archivists, Bible scholars, librarians and libraries, school children, students and translators. Painting from 1634.