The Flagellation of Christ, surrounded by Saint Jerome and Saint Francis

“The Flagellation of Christ, surrounded by Saint Jerome and Saint Francis of Assisi”
16th century Flemish school
Oil on panel, 30.5 cm x 27 cm
Triptych

Jerome of Stridon or Saint Jerome born around 347 in Stridon, on the border between Pannonia and Dalmatia (in present-day Slovenia or Croatia), and died on September 30, 420 in Bethlehem, is a monk, translator of the Bible, and the one of the four Fathers of the Latin Church, and Doctor of the Church with Ambrose of Milan, Augustine of Hippo and Gregory I. Latin Christians venerate Jerome as a saint and celebrate him on September 30. In the Roman Catholic Church, he is recognized as the patron saint of translators, archaeologists, archivists, librarians, librarians, students, doctors, pilgrims, libraries, encyclopedists, schools, Bible schools . The writings of Jerome de Stridon, and in particular the Vulgate, are recognized at the Council of Trent as the official version of the Roman Catholic Church. It is a recognition of Jérôme de Stridon. Valéry Larbaud asserted that the Vulgate is “one of the cornerstones of our civilisation”.

A Roman priest, Jerome is traditionally represented as a cardinal. Even when he is figured as an anchorite (hermit) with a cross, a skull and a Bible for all ornamentation of his cell, he is often depicted with a red hat or some other sign like the purple mantle to indicate his rank as a cardinal. . The Golden Legend develops often legendary biographies of the lives of the saints. Jérôme de Stridon is one of them. He would have met a lion wounded by a thorn in the paw, and this lion (symbol of the desert) would have let Jerome treat him. The legend goes on to claim that the lion would have become Jerome's pet, leading to numerous depictions of Jerome in the company of a lion.

Saint Francis of Assisi (Italian: Francesco d'Assisi), born Giovanni di Pietro Bernardone in Assisi (Italy) in 1181 or 1182 and died October 3, 1226, was an Italian Catholic religious, deacon, mystic, and founder of the Order of Friars Minor (O.F.M.) in 1210, characterized by a sequela Christi in prayer, joy, poverty, evangelization and love of divine Creation.
Knight of Christ and Lady Poverty, Saint Francis is considered one of the greatest saints in the history of the Church: he caused Christianity to undergo a decisive change, and was quickly nicknamed "Alter Christus", the other Christ, after his death. According to Catholic tradition, he is the first saint in history to receive the stigmata.
In 1228, barely two years after his death, Saint Francis was canonized by Pope Gregory IX. Francis of Assisi is commemorated on October 4 in the Catholic liturgical calendar. With Saint Catherine of Siena, he is designated patron saint of Italy.
François is the patron especially of Cubs, within the Catholic scouting movements, as well as that of animals. Following his example, according to article 6 of their law, scouts are invited to discover in nature “the work of God” and to consider it accordingly with respect and by learning to know it.
Viewing animals as living creations of God and elevating them to the rank of brother to man, Saint Francis became the patron saint of animals and his feast day, October 4, was established as World Animal Day on of a convention of ecologists in Florence in 1931.