Saint Jerome in a Landscape

According to legend, when he was in the wilderness Jerome removed a thorn from a lion's paw. For this kindness, the lion became Jerome's faithful companion. Jerome's compassion towards the creature was interpreted as an act of Christian charity. Although the wildlife is exotic, the landscape and buildings in the background of this painting recall the countryside near Venice. Venetian artist Giovanni di Niccolò Mansueti was a pupil of Gentile Bellini and, like his master, painted a number of large narratives for Venetian confraternities.The smaller scale of this painting indicates that it was probably intended for a domestic setting.