“Saint Jerome in Meditation” is an oil painting on canvas created by the renowned artist Caravaggio around the year 1606. This work, exemplifying the Baroque movement and the technique of Tenebrism, measures 118 by 81 centimeters. It is a religious painting that is currently housed in the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey in Monistrol de Montserrat, Spain.
The artwork portrays Saint Jerome, an essential figure in Christian history, immersed in deep contemplation. The scene is imbued with intense chiaroscuro, a hallmark of Caravaggio’s style, which underscores the dramatic contrasts between light and shadow. Saint Jerome is depicted as an elderly, ascetic figure, emphasizing his thin, sinewy body, which is partially shrouded in a red drapery. The skull situated beside him, a traditional memento mori, alludes to the transient nature of human life. His expression, sombre and contemplative, reflects the depth of his meditation. The background, cloaked in darkness, further accentuates the saint’s illuminated form, drawing the viewer’s focus entirely onto the central figure and the profound spiritual introspection it embodies.
