The Last Communion of Saint Jerome
The great fourth-century scholar and translator of the Bible into Latin is shown in his cell near Bethlehem, supported by his brethren as he receives the Last Communion. Famous in its day, the picture was painted for the Florentine wool merchant Francesco del Pugliese, a supporter of the radical preacher Savonarola. An opponent of the Medici, Pugliese may have been attracted to the subject for its deeply devotional content. The period frame was carved in the workshop of Giuliano da Maiano; the lunette is by Bartolomeo di Giovanni, who sometimes collaborated with Botticelli.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Last Communion of Saint Jerome
- Artist: Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi) (Italian, Florence 1444/45–1510 Florence)
- Date: early 1490s
- Medium: Tempera and gold on wood
- Dimensions: 13 1/2 x 10 in. (34.3 x 25.4 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
- Object Number: 14.40.642
- Curatorial Department: European Paintings
Audio
5062. The Last Communion of Saint Jerome
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