The Penance of St. Jerome

Piero della Francesca completed this Renaissance devotional panel around 1450. Saint Jerome kneels in the wilderness, beating his breast in penitence. A crucifix stands before him, and a lion (his traditional companion) appears nearby. The rocky landscape reflects Piero's characteristic precision and geometric clarity.

Jerome was popular among humanists for translating the Bible into Latin. Artists often depicted him either as a scholarly cardinal or as a penitent hermit. Piero chose the wilderness setting, showing Jerome's four years of ascetic life in the Syrian desert. Some scholars suggest the figure may be based on Piero himself, adding personal significance. The small panel measures 51 x 38 cm, oil on wood, and hangs at the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.