Saint Jerome
- Artist: Pietro di Francesco degli Orioli
- Date: (circa) 1480
- Medium: tempera on panel
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the “Saint Jerome” by Pietro di Francesco degli Orioli. The piece dates to about 1480 and is executed in tempera on panel, a technique that gives the work a bright, almost translucent quality. You can see how the artist’s brushwork keeps the figure’s lines crisp while the tempera layers give the skin a subtle glow that suggests both humanity and sanctity. Although we don’t have a detailed description of the scene, the title points us to a venerable saint who was known for his scholarship and ascetic life. The painting’s composition likely reflects the spiritual depth typical of a figure like Saint Jerome, and the careful handling of tempera showcases Orioli’s skill in balancing color and detail. The medium and period together place the work squarely in the late 15th‑century Italian art world, hinting at the transition from medieval styles toward the early Renaissance.
See it in person
Saint Jerome hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
