San Girolamo

Leombruno is an important figure, but one of ambiguous categorization.We do not know as many main features about his life, as much as for the outcomes of his art, that destiny chose for him the Gonzaga court of Mantua between the masterpieces of Mantegna and those of Giulio Romano. Thus, Lorenzo Leombruno, the most important Renaissance author to be actually born in this city of Virgil, left behind him a series of works often difficult to classify and situate. In fact, he was less inspired by Mantegna than he was by Perugino or Lorenzo Costa the Elder, giving his paintings a grace that is echoed by the exquisite life led by the figure of Isabella d'Este, wife of Francesco Gonzaga. Thus, many works attributed to Leombruno over time have been later expunged from his ever-smaller catalog, which now has very unreliable characteristics. The Saint Jerome here present is one of the few paintings actually completed by the Mantuan, due both to the presence of a signature and to the solidity of the general composition, which can be dated to the sixteenth century. Saint Jerome, with powerful arms, observes with intensity and passion the crucifix in his hand, which seems almost planted in the book of Ancient Scriptures, written in Hebrew characters and bearing on the thread of its pages the inscription: "LAV. LEOMBRUNUS MANTUANUS". It is an effective and intermediate art among the many presences of the Po Valley, including Dosso Dossi. It is also a fundamental starting point to recount with new spirit the personality of a painter with undoubted talent and many acquaintances.