Saint Jerome in the desert - attributed to Salomon Koninck (1609 - 1656)

Oil on canvas. Holland, mid-17th century, attributed to Salomon Koninck.
Illuminated only by candlelight, Saint Jerome, recognizable by the purple of his cardinal's robe covering his legs, is here meditating during his penance in the desert. His left hand rests on a skull, a symbol of vanity, with which he appears to be conversing; his right arm rests on an open book bearing the inscription "Meditationnes Sacrae", accompanied by an illustration of the Passion. This is the title of a book written by the English philosopher Francis Bacon in 1597, from which comes the famous phrase "a little science leads away from God; much brings back". This aphorism took on its full meaning in the Grand Siècle, when the great discoveries and the printing press contributed to the spread of knowledge. This painting invites us not to pit the progress of the natural sciences against Christian devotion, like our own Saint Jerome, whose serene face reflects a faith that remained intact, and whose linguistic knowledge enabled him to translate the Holy Scriptures.
Salomon Koninck's painting here is typical of 17th-century Dutch painting, at the crossroads of several styles. While the work's subtle luminism owes much to the art of Rembrandt van Rijn, the great care taken in depicting the old doctor's complexion, objects and other materials distances it from Rembrandt, whose touch was more powerful and eventful. In this respect, our artist is more in line with the fijnschilder ("fine painters") of the Leiden school, of which Gerrit Dou was a leading figure. By blending these two stylistic repertoires, Salomon Koninck frees himself from the status of slavish follower and creates a dual work, both still life and history painting. This theme of the portrait of an old man framed at mid-bust, sometimes busy, sometimes meditating, but always alone and surrounded by a heap of objects evoking his quality, often attracted Salomon Koninck's attention, as evidenced by his Philosopher at Reading (Gemäldegalderie, Dresden) and his Portrait of an Old Scholar (Hermitage Museum, Moscow).

Dimensions: 37 x 28.3 cm - 49 x 40 cm with frame
Biography: Salomon Koninck (Amsterdam, 1609 - Id. 1656) was born into a family of craftsmen of Antwerp origin who had emigrated to Amsterdam. Beginning his apprenticeship at the age of twelve in the studio of painter David Colijns, young Salomon went on to study with François Venant, completing his studies with Claes Moyaert in the late 1620s. Paradoxically, none of Salomon Koninck's works show any filiation with his former masters, preferring Rembrandt's art to which he was able to gain exposure thanks to his good relations with the dealer Hendrick Uylenburgh, whom Rembrandt had commissioned to market his paintings in Amsterdam. The inventory of the merchant Johannes de Renialme, dated 1657, shows that his art was appreciated by the very wealthy, as some of his paintings were valued at 150 florins, about a year's salary for a skilled worker of the time. Salomon Koninck painted little compared to other artists of his milieu. We know of no pupils or collaborators, and no copies of his work are recorded in the years following his death in 1656.

Bibliography :
- LOUGHMAN, John, "Salomon Koninck's 'St Mark the Evangelist'", The Burlington Magazine, vol. 139, No. 1135 (Oct., 1997), pp. 692-695.
- REAU, Louis, Iconographie de l'art chrétien, 3 vols. Paris, Presses Universitaires de France, 1959.
- SLUIJTER, Eric Jan, Rembrandt's Rivals: History Painting in Amsterdam 1630 - 1650, John Benjamins Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 2016.
- SLUIJTER, Eric Jan et al. Leidse fijnschilders?: van Gerrit Dou tot Frans van Mieris de Jonge 1630-1760, (cat. exp. tentoonstelling Stedelijk Museum De Lakenhal, Leiden, van 10 Sept. tot 4 Dec. 1988), Uitgeverij Waanders b.v, Leiden, 1988.
- SUMOWSKI, Werner, Gemälde der Rembrandt-Schüler, vol. 3, Editions PVA, Landau, 1983.