Giovanni Bellini: St. Jerome in the Desert. Born in northern Italy, he traveled extensively, including to France, Egypt and Palestine, and was very drawn to the ascetic life; but as a scholar he also needed to be in touch with other thinkers, including Augustine of Hippo, with whom he corresponded. He finally settled down in a cave near Bethlehem, and is often depicted with a lion which supposedly befriended him for removing a thorn from its paw.
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