Himmelskörper

A Heavenly Body

The yellow body of the heavenly apparition, with its red tail, is depicted appearing from the dark clouds of the night sky. The scene is probably intended to show a vision of the end of the world, as described in the New Testament Book of Revelation. This states that the stars and constellations will fall from heaven.

Saint Jerome, depicted on the front of this panel, is said to have heard the trumpets of the Last Judgement while in the wilderness. He was regarded as a prophet of the end of the world. This painting was probably used for private devotion.