Saint Augustine

Saints Augustine and Jerome are two of the fathers of the Western church who are venerated especially for their scholarly roles in laying the foundation of Christian thought. Jerome translated the Bible into Latin, and Augustine authored "Confessions" and "City of God." Emphasizing the two saints’ literary contributions, these paintings represent them engaged in writing. Their identification is reinforced by their attributes: Saint Augustine is wearing the habit of the Augustinian Order, while Saint Jerome is in his red cardinal’s robe and hat alongside a lion. The curvilinear form of the edges and the low viewpoint indicate that the paintings were most likely the upper corners of an altarpiece composed of multiple panels.