[1] Specific influences include Titian's Penitent Saint Jerome (Louvre) and the naturalism of Jacopo Bassano.

[1] Critics argue the composition is based on two prints by Cornelis Cort, a Flemish printer - Penitent St Jerome and The Vision of Saint Eustace.

These prints were in turn based on ideas by the Lombard painter Girolamo Muziano, who was also influenced by Venetian models.

[2] The dogs and some other details are drawn from Saint Eustace, an engraving by Albrecht Dürer of the same subject.

[1] It is theorised that the painting was taken to Rome by the artist to give to cardinal Odoardo Farnese, who became titular cardinal of the Basilica of Sant'Eustachio in 1595, the same year as Carracci moved to Rome permanently to work for Odoardo.