St Jerome in Penitence 

El Greco painted Saint Jerome in Penitence, presenting us with a figure immersed in devotion. Jerome, an intellectual, is shown here in stark contrast: aged and gaunt, clutching a crucifix and a stone, symbols of Christ's sacrifice and Jerome's own ascetic penance. The skull before him serves as a memento mori, a reminder of mortality, seen throughout the ages from ancient Roman art to later vanitas paintings. The crucifix itself is a potent symbol, evolving from early Christian symbols of the cross to the fully realized depiction of Christ's suffering. The emotional weight of this image speaks to the deep-seated human confrontation with suffering and redemption. The recurrence of the skull echoes in diverse contexts, suggesting a collective subconscious grappling with the ephemeral nature of life. El Greco masterfully engages viewers on a profound level, tapping into this collective memory and the raw emotional power inherent in these enduring symbols.