St Jerome
by MATTEO di Giovanni, Tempera on wood, 42 x 25 cm
This is one of the early works of the painter. He probably painted this picture as part of the decoration of the framing pilasters of a large-size altarpiece. The figure of the saint reveals that the master received his initial artistic training in Umbria, and that he was especially inspired by the classical forms and light-permeated colours of Piero della Francesca.