Parmigianino: The Vision of Saint Jerome

 The Vision of Saint Jerome 

at The National Gallery, London 

until 9 March 2025 

Parmigianino's remarkable painting known as The Vision of St Jerome has not been seen for a decade, but now returns to public view, freshly conserved, with every detail clear and glowing with new life.

The painting's title on dates to the 19th century - and survives despite the fact that it's not at all clear that this is indeed a vision - or why St Jerome is sprawled full-length across the grass beneath the Virgin and Child.

 Parmigianino - the little artist from Parma - was an excellent draftsman, as several examples of his work currently on show in the King's Gallery reveal. The National Gallery is exhibiting The Vision alongside a number of the artist's preparatory drawings. We will examine these in detail, after first getting to know the painting itself as thoroughly as possible. We will also see how the altarpiece relates to the artist's other paintings, and its importance for his brief sojourn in Rome, where it was created.