Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Vitae patrum
Italy, Naples, between 1350 and 1375
MS M.626 fol. 123r

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1) Wetti of Reichenau: Scene, mourned by Brethren and recounting Vision to Abbot -- Within room and beneath gothic arcade of trefoil arches, Wetti of Reichenau, nimbed, tonsured, eyes closed, and wearing monk’s habit, with hands crossed at waist, laying on draped bed, head on pillow.
Behind the bed, among group of tonsured monks, wearing monk’s habits, one carrying processional cross and one chanting (most with only heads visible), the foremost tonsured priest, wearing vestments, reading from open book with pseudo-inscriptions (Scene, Liturgical: Obsequies?). At right, mitered abbot, wearing abbot’s habit, seated and in conversation with another Wetti of Reichenau, as half-figure, nimbed, tonsured and wearing monk’s habit.
2) Wetti of Reichenau: Scene, recounting Vision to Brethren -- Within cross-surmounted monastery, half-figures of group of monks (most with only heads visible), the foremost raising right hand to face, looking toward Wetti of Reichenau, nimbed, all tonsured and wearing monk’s habits, the Wetti gesturing.
3) Wetti of Reichenau: Scene, Death -- Within room and beneath trefoil arch, Wetti of Reichenau, nimbed, mitered, eyes closed, and wearing monk’s habit, with right hand crossed on breast, laying on draped bed with head on pillow. Behind the bed, group of men, possibly mourners, one raising right hand to face and one wringing hands (most with only heads visible).
Scenes in common landscape framed by two trees.
Illustration at end of Walahfrid Strabo, Visio Wettini.