Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Vitae patrum
Italy, Naples, between 1350 and 1375
MS M.626 fol. 115v

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1) Gregory Nazianzen: Scene, in Wilderness -- At upper right, winged personification of wind, blowing air toward Gregory Nazianzen, nimbed, mitered, wearing bishop’s vestments, with left hand holding cross-staff, walking in hilly landscape.
2) Basil the Great: Text, Unidentified -- In center, within room with window, tonsured man, with right hand raised, kneeling before idol of man, with right hand holding scepter and with left hand holding disk, mounted on base. To right, in bedroom, tonsured man, eyes closed, laying under blanket in draped bed, with head on pillow, approached from above by horned and winged devil, issuing flames from mouth, lowering right hand toward him.
At far right, tonsured man, gesturing toward horned and winged devil, with claw feet, issuing flames from mouth, with right hand raised, in landscape.
Scenes in common landscape framed by two trees.
Illustration at end of Life of Gregory Nazianzen and beginning unidentified text, possibly Homily of Basil the Great.