Saint Jerome and Abraham panels

Saint Jerome Penitent and Abraham Served by Three Angels are two paintings by the Italian Renaissance master Antonello da Messina. They are housed in the Pinacoteca Civica, Reggio Calabria.

Saint Jerome Penitent
Artist	Antonello da Messina
Year	c. 1455
Type	Various techniques on wood
Dimensions	40.2 cm × 30.2 cm (15.8 in × 11.9 in)
Location	Pinacoteca Civica, Reggio Calabria

Abraham Served by Three Angels
Artist	Antonello da Messina
Year	c. 1455
Type	Various techniques on wood
Dimensions	21.4 cm × 29.3 cm (8.4 in × 11.5 in)
Location	Pinacoteca Civica, Reggio Calabria

These two panels are considered to be among the first works by Antonello da Messina. They were both intended for devotion of private owners.

Saint Jerome Penitent

The painting shows elements inspired both the Flemish and Italian schools of painting. The rugged landscape is characteristic of the former, while the kneeling posture of Saint Jerome is typically Italian.

Abraham Served by Three Angels

Because of its poor condition, for a long time this work was considered a part of a larger Nativity. The identification of theme was possible after the discovery of a small panel by a 15th-century French master (now at Denver) in which the scene is reproduced in its entirety, and which was surely known to the Italian master: the part missing in Antonello's work would show Sarah spying Abraham from the hut's door.

See also

• Themes in Italian Renaissance painting

Sources

• Barbera, K, ed. (2005). Antonello da Messina: Sicily's Renaissance master. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

External links

• Description (St. Jerome) (in Italian)
• Description (Abraham) (in Italian)