Vision of Saint Jerome
The Vision of Saint Jerome of The Madonna and Child with Saints is a painting by the Italian Mannerist artist Parmigianino, executed in 1526–1527. It is in the collection of the National Gallery, in London.
History
The work was commissioned on 3 January 1526 in Rome, by Maria Bufalini, wife of Antonio Caccialupi, to decorate the family chapel in the church of San Salvatore in Lauro. The contract mentioned "Francesco Mazola de Parma" and one "Pietro" with the same name, perhaps Parmigianino's uncle Piero Ilario Mazzola. The elongated shape derives from its original destination as part of a triptych, the side panels of which would have represented The Immaculate Conception and the Saints Joachim and Anna.According to late Renaissance art biographer Giorgio Vasari, Parmigianino was working on this painting during the Sack of Rome when imperial troops burst into his workshop but "seeing him stupefied at this work." they let him pursue it'. He was able to escape Rome by paying a ransom. His uncle in Rome was able to hide the painting in the refectory of Santa Maria della Pace.
In 1558 the Bufalini family decided to move the painting to their chapel in Sant'Agostino in Città di Castello. The painting was acquired in 1790 by the English painter James Durno who brought it to England. There it was subsequently sold to the Marquess of Albercon for 1,500 guineas. After a number of further sales, the painting was acquired by the National Gallery in 1826.
There are about 20 drawings in various museums such as the Musée Condé, the British Museum and the Getty Center that appear to be made in preparation of the picture. A drawing in the Galleria nazionale di Parma is the one which is the nearest to the final version, although it adopts a horizontal composition.