PERUGHINO – St. Jerome supporting two executed Louvre (Paris)

The composition presents a stark and unsettling scene centered around three figures positioned before a rudimentary wooden structure resembling a gallows or scaffold. Two male figures, seemingly lifeless, hang suspended from this framework by ropes. Their bodies are rendered with considerable anatomical detail, emphasizing their vulnerability and the brutality of their fate. The skin tones suggest pallor, hinting at recent death. One figure’s hair is longer than the others, adding a subtle distinction to their presentation.
Between these hanging figures stands an older man, distinguished by his long white beard and halo, draped in a vibrant red robe lined with fur. His expression appears one of solemn contemplation or perhaps sorrowful acceptance. He acts as a visual intermediary between the deceased and the final figure on the right. This last individual is dressed in elaborate clerical garments – a black cap and flowing robes trimmed with pink – and raises his hands in what could be interpreted as either supplication, horror, or an attempt at intervention.
The background landscape is rendered in muted greens and blues, featuring a distant horizon line punctuated by slender trees. The perspective suggests depth but maintains a certain flatness, contributing to the overall sense of theatricality. Light falls unevenly across the scene, highlighting the bodies of the hanged men and casting shadows that accentuate their forms.
Several subtexts emerge from this arrangement. The juxtaposition of the executed figures with the bearded man evokes themes of sacrifice, redemption, and divine judgment. The clerical figure’s gesture introduces a layer of moral questioning – is he witnessing an injustice, attempting to atone for it, or simply observing? The red robe worn by the central figure is particularly striking; its color traditionally associated with martyrdom and religious authority, further amplifying the gravity of the scene.
The wooden structure itself functions as more than just a prop; it serves as a symbolic barrier between life and death, earthly justice and divine mercy. The overall effect is one of profound melancholy and contemplation on mortality, faith, and the consequences of human actions.