(click painting to enlarge)
This 15th century image of St Jerome had such depth I felt a strong desire to paint it in a completely different context. Studiously experimenting for a whole lifetime the alchemist is no further forward. He is unaware that the planet surface is collapsing or that he is close to the edge. The landscape was formed from humanities past achievements hence the old symbols, bodies and faces within it. He looks up to see an owl presenting him with new information. No matter how clever or how hard working he has been he cannot achieve enlightenment through the ways of the past.