Antwerp School, early 1530s

Oscar and Maria Salzer, Los Angeles;
By whom given to the Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art and Science, 1983 (acc. no. L84.01).

Panel is flat, stable, and beveled on four sides. A strip of wood on the verso of the panel has been removed on the top edge, where the beveling edge would have been. The panel is comprised of two pieces, brought together by a horizontal join located in the top third of the panel. Under UV there are some scattered retouches located in the sky, drapery, base of the crucifix, all of which are quite small and cosmetic. The red drapery below, and smaller figures to the left are in especially well preserved condition. Overall in good condition. In a carved wooden frame.
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This panel depicts a charming but rarely illustrated episode in the life of St. Jerome and the lion that he rescued.  After Jerome returned from his years in the desert, he settled in Bethlehem and began work on his translation of the scriptures.  When he helped a lion with a wounded paw, the creature was so grateful he became the saint's companion and was used to guard an ass who transported firewood from the forest.  One day the lion fell asleep and the ass was stolen by traders.  The monks were afraid the lion had eaten her, but could not quite believe it, so they kept him to carry the wood in her place.  The lion was desolate and never stopped searching for his missing friend.  After some time the merchants returned, with the ass guiding their caravan of camels.  When the lion saw them he attacked, frightening the men away and herding the animals toward the monastery.  Eventually the monks found the merchants, who apologized for their theft, returned the ass and pledged the monastery a yearly donation of oil. 

Here we see two episodes from the story.  In the foreground is the penitent saint kneeling at the foot of the cross, accompanied by the lion.  In the left middle ground is the caravan, with the ass in the lead, returning to the monastery, where they are met by St. Jerome in his cardinal's robes.