St. Jerome in Penitence, according to Wethey, The Paintings of Titian: Complete Edition, I. p. 135, was painted by Titian for the church of Santa Maria Nuova in Venice, and moved to the Brera Gallery in Milan after the closure of the church during the Napoleonic occupation. Wethey refers to the 'general brownish tonality' with 'contrast in the slightly greenish trees'. St. Jerome is described by Wethey as a 'muscular, Michelangelesque old man with grey beard [who] holds the rock of self mortification in his right hand as he addresses his prayer towards the crucifix'. The evergreen ivy growing on the rocks above St. Jerome is a common symbol of eternal life.
Tiziano Vecellio (Titian) c.1490-1576
St. Jerome in Penitence c.1555
Oil on panel, 235x125cm
Provenance: Painted for the Church of Santa Maria Nuova, Venice; transferred to the Brera Gallery in 1808 when the church was closed due to Napoleonic occupation
Collection: Brera Gallery, Milan
For a reproduction of this artistic work, please consult: Wethey, Harold E., Titian: The Religious Paintings, (Phaidon, 1969), pl.171