Gaspard DUGHET (1615-1675) - attributed, Landscape with Saint Jerome

Oil, duplicated canvas; 123 x 173 cm.

"Against the background of a vast landscape on the left is kneeling on stone blocks St. Jerome the hermit, clad in a reddish drapery thrown over his shoulder. In front of him is a skull and cross, beyond him at the entrance to the rocky grotto is visible the head of a lion (symbol of St. Jerome).
The magnificently elaborated landscape with several lines of the horizon, enclosed on the sides by large clumps of trees, and in the middle against the background of the sky by rocky mountains - is a type of Italian landscape of the late 16th century and the first half of the 17th century. The gray-blue sky transitions at the top to dark gray, at the bottom bright and luminous. Bright clouds cover part of the sky. The group of mighty trees outside the figure of St. Jerome developed beautifully in detail, the leaves and branches have a "tapestry" character.
The character of the painting, its stylistic features and artistic class point to the hand of an outstanding painter of the Italian school of the first half of the 17th century, Gaspard Dughet (1615-1675), son of Frenchman Jacques Dughet and Italian Dorothy de Scaraffe of Paliano. He was born in Rome and was essentially active there. He was also active in Tivoli, Frascatti, Florence, Perugia and Naples. He painted a lot and very quickly, and was a landscape painter of great renown. He was a pupil of the eminent French painter Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665), whose influence can be seen in many of his paintings."
From an expert report by Irena Bobrowska, M.D., in 1980.