Saint Jerome (342–420 CE), translator of the Greek and Hebrew books of the Bible into a revised Latin version, occupied an important place in the oeuvres of Rembrandt and his circle. His identity as an ascetic in the desert, a prominent cardinal in Rome and a scholar in his study offered rich possibilities for
artistic variation. Rembrandt’s first pupil, Gerrit Dou, joined the workshop in 1628. He made paintings of hermit saints later in his career, and the fine manner of painting, using minute brushstrokes as seen here, evokes Dou’s mature style.