Saint Jerome Writing is painting by the Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) who is often known just by his last name. It was completed sometime around 1605 to 1606.
The artwork depicts the early christian saint Jerome of Stridon who was born sometime in the 340s and died in 420. He is famous for translating the Bible into Latin, a translation known as the Vulgate.
In this painting we see Jerome busy at his work. His head is buried in books and he doesn't even notice our presence. To him we are but passers by, unworthy enough to interrupt him from his sacred work. He wears a red cloth that is wrapped around his aging body. His bald head shines brightly, and above it is a barely noticeable halo.
Jerome's desk is littered with books, and above them on the left side sits a single skull. The background is pitch black. The entire scene is unnatural and is not meant to be understood as a realistic depiction.
So what does this work of art mean? Is the darkness in the back meant to represent the earthly world, while Jerome and his books are the light of the true religion? Is the skull a symbol of mortality, that our time on this earth is short and we should focus on spiritual matters? Or do we, in modern times, look to this painting as representing the church in darkness, a thing of the past that is fading into oblivion?
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