Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Vita et miraculae sancti Benedicti
Austria, St. Florian, early 14th century
MS M.55 fol. 10r

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1) Benedict of Montecassino: Scene, Fire in Kitchen -- Man raises pickaxe above idol, partly dug out of ground. Inside building, idol lies on ground, before two tonsured monks pouring water from pitchers onto fire.
To right, the foremost of four tonsured monks raises joined hands toward Benedict, nimbed, tonsured, in abbot's habit, holding crozier in left hand and raising right hand toward them.
Scene caption on frame, TERRUIT HOS SIGNIS FALSIS FANTASTICUS IGNIS. PATRIS UT ACCESSIT PRECIBUS FANTASMA RECESSIT.
2) Benedict of Montecassino: Scene, Warning of Approach of Devil, and Benedict of Montecassino: Scene, raising Novice -- Inside building, Benedict, nimbed, tonsured, in monk's habit, sits on bench decorated with bird heads, holding book with two straps in left hand and raising right hand; outside, cowled monk with tau-staff in left hand departs, stepping on stairway on which is tonsured novice carrying stones on tray; devil hovers above. On top of wall, devil, again represented, throws one of three stones on falling tonsured novice.
Scene caption on frame, AD PATRES PERGO, SATHANAS AIT AFFUIT ERGO. MURUM CONFREGIT PUERUM QUOQUE MORTE SUBEGIT.