Saint Jerome

Matthias Stom was a Dutch painter who spent most of his career in Italy, working in Rome and later in Sicily, where he became one of the most important followers of Caravaggio's dramatic lighting style. This Saint Jerome from 1635 depicts the Church Father as a penitent scholar — a subject that allowed Caravaggist painters to showcase their mastery of candlelight effects on aged flesh and still-life objects. Stom's prolonged stay in southern Italy gave his work a warmth and directness distinct from the cooler interpretations of Utrecht Caravaggists.

A single candle or hidden light source rakes across Jerome's weathered features, casting deep shadows that model the saint's emaciated body with sculptural force. The skull, book, and crucifix are rendered with still-life precision against the enveloping darkness.