Saint Jerome in His Study

Domenico Ghirlandaio, Saint Jerome in His Study, 1480. Fresco, Church of Ognissanti, Florence, Italy.

Domenico Ghirlandaio (1449–94) was a painter active during the Italian Renaissance. He was the premier portraitist for Florentine elite society, including the famous de’ Medici family. Ghirlandaio established a successful workshop in Florence along with his two talented brothers, David and Benedetto, and together the three trained many talented apprentices, including Michelangelo. This fresco depicts Saint Jerome, most famous for his translation of the Bible into Latin, working at his desk, surrounded by the tools of his academic pursuits: inkwells, glasses, ruler, scissors, and a candleholder. Jerome rests his head on his hand as he writes, his direct gaze focused not on the work at hand but on the viewer.