Virgin and Child with Saint Jerome, Saint Anthony of Padua and Two Angels

The Virgin Mary with the Christ Child was the most popular subject in European art until the 17th century. Here, the two male saints at left personalize the composition. At far left, Jerome holds the stone he beat his chest with to avoid temptation. Next to him, Anthony of Padua carries a heart. These saints were almost certainly requested by the patron, likely offering a clue to this person’s identity. The client may have been named Girolamo (Italian for Jerome) or Antonio, or felt a particular devotion to these figures. The angels at right lack defining attributes yet balance the arrangement.