Saint Jerome is the subject of at least seven studies produced in preparation for an altarpiece of the Assumption of the Virgin for the Cathedral of Reggio Emilia. The figure of the saint was intended to be placed in the lower right-hand corner of the painting and Guercino experimented with radically different gestures and poses, from kneeling to sitting, and rapidly glancing over a shoulder, as here, to make the most effective connection with the figures above.

Preparatory drawing for altarpiece of Assumption of the Virgin with St Peter as Pope and St Jerome, for the Girolda Fiordibelli chapel in Cathedral of Reggio Emilia, delivered by Guercino in May 1626.

by descent to the artist's nephews, Benedetto Gennari (1633-1715) and Cesare Gennari (1637-1688), 1666; by descent to Cesare’s sons, Gianfrancesco Gennari (1671-1727) and Filippo Antonio Gennari (1677-1751), 1719; by descent to Gianfrancesco's son, Carlo Gennari (1716-1790); presumably Francesco Forni, Bologna (18th century) or Abbé Bonducci, Florence (18th century); presumably acquired from either of those by John Bouverie, England (ca. 1722/1723-1750), 1741 or 1745; by descent to his sister, Anne Hervey (d. 1757); by descent to her son, Christopher Hervey (d. 1786); by descent to his aunt, Elizabeth Bouverie (d. 1798); by descent to Sir Charles Middleton, later 1st Baron Barham (1726-1813); by descent to his son-in-law, Sir Gerard Noel, 2nd Baron Barham (1759-1838); by descent to his son, Charles Noel, later 1st Earl of Gainsborough (1781-1866); by descent to Charles Noel, 3rd Earl of Gainsborough (1850-1926); his sale, Christie's (London), 27 July 1922, part of lot 81 (a box containing 68 drawings by Guercino and others); purchased there by F.R. Meatyard (London) on behalf of Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b (£90 for the lot); Witt Bequest 1952

Guercino - Mind to Paper, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 22/02/2007-13/05/2007

Guercino - Mind to Paper, J Paul Getty Museum & Los Angeles & California & USA, 24/10/2006-21/01/2007

Drawings by Guercino from British Collections, British Museum, London, 1991

Guercino: Mind to paper, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; Courtauld Gallery, London, 2006-2007 Los Angeles, 2006
no. 11
Fig. p. 42

Genova e Guercino: Dipinti e disegni delle civiche collezioni, Galleria di Palazzo Rosso, Genoa, 1992
p. 44

Drawings by Guercino from British collections, British Museum, London, 1991, 1991
no. 56 and pp. 31n92, 32n108, 43, 79
Illus. on p. 85 ...More

Watermark: Watermark: Recto, right centre edge, fragment: top of a large circle containing the tip (of a crown?) surmounted by a 6-pointed star (too fragmentary to identify).

Inscription: 60

Inscription: 1365

Collector's mark: collector's mark of Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b)