Bartolomeo Cavarozzi

BARTOLOMEO CAVAROZZI (Viterbo, c. 1590 - Rome, September 21, 1625).
"St. Jerome."
Oil on canvas. Relined.
Attached report issued by Don Gianni Papi.
Measurements: 92 x 112 cm; 124 x 143 cm (frame).
This work, attributed to the Italian painter Bartolomeo Cavarozzi (1587-1625), represents St. Jerome, one of the most iconic figures of the Christian tradition and a recurring theme in Baroque painting. The scene, of remarkable dramatic intensity, shows the elderly saint with a long beard, wrapped in a mantle of rich folds in pink and dark tones, with an expression of deep contemplation.
St. Jerome appears in a meditative posture, with his hands crossed on the table, in an attitude of reflection. His face, illuminated by a directed light, highlights the wrinkles and the intensity of his gaze, while his body is submerged in the penumbra, generating a powerful chiaroscuro contrast. The lighting, with a clear Caravaggesque influence, reinforces the drama and realism of the scene.
On the left, a skull on some books suggests a meditation on death and the transience of life, a characteristic theme of St. Jerome's iconography and vanitas representations. At the top, a golden trumpet seems to emerge from the darkness, symbol of the divine call or the Last Judgment. In the background, a barely visible cardinal's hat recalls the ecclesiastical dignity of the saint.
St. Jerome (c. 347-420) was a scholar and translator of the Vulgate, the Latin version of the Bible, which made him one of the most influential intellectual and spiritual figures of Christianity. In Baroque painting his representation was highly demanded.
This type of representation reflects the Baroque vision of faith as a path of renunciation and sacrifice, underlining the transience of earthly existence. The skull and books reinforce the message that knowledge and wisdom must be guided by an awareness of mortality.
Cavarozzi was an outstanding follower of Caravaggio's naturalism, integrating his mastery of tenebrism with a meticulous attention to detail and the tactile quality of materials. He is recognized for his mastery in the rendering of textures, evident in the realism of the saint's face, the sheen of the canvas, and the solid materiality of the objects on the table.
Despite his early death in 1625, Cavarozzi left a significant legacy in Caravaggista painting, influencing the Spanish school and artists such as Ribera and Zurbarán. His work is a testament to the fusion of Italian realism and the deep spirituality of the Baroque, making this painting a work of great artistic and devotional value.