St Jerome and Abraham panels (Antonello da Messina)

St Jerome Penitent
Artist	Antonello da Messina
Year	c. 1455
Type	Various techniques on wood
Dimensions	40.2 cm × 30.2 cm (15.8 in × 11.9 in)
Location	Pinacoteca Civica, Reggio Calabria

Abraham Served by Three Angels
Artist	Antonello da Messina
Year	c. 1455
Type	Various techniques on wood
Dimensions	21.4 cm × 29.3 cm (8.4 in × 11.5 in)
Location	Pinacoteca Civica, Reggio Calabria

St Jerome Penitent and Abraham Served by the Angels are two paintings by the Italian Renaissance master Antonello da Messina. They are housed in the Pinacoteca Civica, Reggio Calabria.

These two panels are considered amongst the first works by Antonello da Messina.^[1] They were both intended for devotion of private owners.

St. Jerome[]

The painting shows elements inspired both the Flemish and Italian painting schools. The former belongs the rugged landscape, while typically Italian is the kneeling posture of St. Jerome.

Abraham Served by the Angels[]

Due to its poor conditions, for a long time this work was considered a part of a larger Nativity. The identification of theme was possible after the finding of a small panel by a 15th-century French master (now at Denver) in which the scene is reproduced in its entirety, and which was surely known by the Italian master: the part missing in Antonello's work would show Sarah spying Abraham from the hut's door.

See also[]

• Italian Renaissance painting, development of themes

Notes[]

Sources[]

• Barbera, K, ed. (2005). Antonello da Messina: Sicily's Renaissance master. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

External links[]

• Description (St. Jerome) (in Italian)
• Description (Abraham) (in Italian)