Saint Jerome in his Study

While on the subject of saints and animals, I really like the story of Saint Jerome. Saint Jerome is often depicted in paintings his study as he is known to have spent a vast amount of time reading literature and writing. A lion is almost always included in the scene, as it is told that he once removed a thorn from a lion's paw and following that the lion then befriended saint Jerome and stayed by his side. You might just be able to make out the lion in the background in this painting. Somehow we know he died on exactly the 30th September 420.