Saint Jerome (about 342 - 420) translated the Bible from Greek and Hebrew into Latin. His version, the Vulgate, was in use throughout the Catholic Church for many centuries. Here he is depicted half-length with the text before him. He was often represented, as in this instance, in the clothes of a cardinal, although the office did not exist in his lifetime.

Several versions of this composition exist. This is considered a weaker example from this group which is usually dated to the 1590s.