The artwork titled “St Jerome and St John the Baptist” by the artist Masaccio dates from 1426-1428 and is a notable piece from the Early Renaissance period. This religious painting is part of the collection at the National Gallery in London, United Kingdom, where it is displayed for the public to view. It represents a significant contribution to the artistic innovations of the Early Renaissance, embodying religious themes and introducing new techniques in portraiture and human form.
The painting features two of Christianity’s most revered saints, St Jerome and St John the Baptist, standing side by side. On the left, St Jerome is depicted in a vivid red robe and a cardinal’s hat, signifying his status within the Church. He holds an open book displaying a Latin inscription, which hints at his scholarly endeavors, most notably the translation of the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate). A small model of a church building rests in his other hand, possibly indicating his role in Christian history or symbolic of the Church itself.
Beside him stands St John the Baptist, recognizable by his attribute of the reed cross, symbolic of his role in heralding the arrival of Christ. His garments, in contrast to St Jerome’s, are depicted in more humble tones, reflecting his ascetic lifestyle. St John is pointing upwards, a common motif representing the divinity of Jesus and Heaven.
At the foot of St Jerome, a lion is present, a common emblem associated with the saint stemming from the legend where he compassionately removed a thorn from a lion’s paw. The animal sits looking up at him, a representation of the harmony present in the saint’s connection to nature and the spiritual world.
The background bears a gilt halo surrounding both saints, and the flora underfoot is carefully detailed, adding a touch of earthly realism amidst their transcendental presence. This careful attention to both the human form and the environment exemplifies Masaccio’s grasp on naturalism, a key feature of the stylistic evolution that would characterize Renaissance art.
