St. Jerome in His Study

Domenico Ghirlandaio's fresco, St. Jerome in His Study (c. 1480), is a notable work from the Early Renaissance period. This painting, located in the Church of Ognissanti in Florence, is believed to be an enlarged adaptation of a Flemish painting by Jan van Eyck. It is a companion piece to Sandro Botticelli's St. Augustine in His Study. Ghirlandaio, known for his detailed narrative frescoes and portraits of contemporary citizens, often incorporated meticulous detail, influenced by early Flemish painters. He preferred working in fresco but also created panel paintings. While his large commissions often involved assistants, his smaller works, like portraits, showcase a striking simplicity and directness.1