Penitent Saint Jerome

Penitent Saint Jerome is a painting by Jusepe de Ribera, created in 1652. It is housed in the Museo del Prado. The painting measures 0.718 meters in width and 0.772 meters in height.

The artwork depicts Saint Jerome, an elderly, bare-chested man with long, white hair and beard. He is shown from the waist up, his gaze directed slightly to the viewer's left. His expression is one of contemplation or penitence. His left hand holds a stone, while his right hand grasps a wooden staff. He is draped in a dark red garment. The background is dark and indistinct, focusing attention on the figure of Saint Jerome. The style is characteristic of Ribera's tenebrism, with strong contrasts between light and shadow.