Brother Gregorio Belo of Vicenza  1547

Fra Gregorio was a member of the order of the Hieronymites, or Poor Hermits of Saint Jerome. The artist was friendly with members of this community in Venice and nearby Treviso, and was probably in harmony with their evangelical fervor and ideals. The friar expresses these ideals through his gestures, as he beats his chest (Saint Jerome was often depicted in this way), and...