St. Jerome Writing

Caravaggio had painted this work on being commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the nephew of Pope Paul V.  This was stolen in 1986 and recovered after two years when a ransom was asked for the same. It was in a damaged state requiring restoration prior to being displayed again.

The aging saint is seen engrossed in writing as he stretches his lean skinny arms to one end of the table, while at the same time he is being observed by a skull which in turn is a reminder of the forces of death that he cannot avoid but struggles hard to overcome.

This Baroque oil on canvas painting measure 112 cm × 157 cm (44 in × 62 in)and is housed in the Galleria Borghese