Saint Jerome Reading
1505
Step into the quiet, rocky cave of Saint Jerome, where the venerable scholar sits absorbed in his book, completely unfazed by the lion resting at his feet. Giovanni Bellini, the godfather of Venetian painting, masterfully frames this holy scene with a breathtaking, sun-drenched landscape featuring crumbling ruins, a distant bridge, and even a pair of playful rabbits hopping in the middle ground. Painted in 1505, this masterpiece showcases Bellini's revolutionary use of light and atmospheric perspective, turning a traditional religious subject into a serene, almost photographic window into the Italian countryside.
Location: National Gallery, London