Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Vita S. Benedicti
Italy, perhaps in Padua, ca. 1450
MS M.184 fol. 28r

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Miniature, left compartment: Benedict of Montecassino: Scene, rebuking Proud Monk -- In room before arched portal, Proud Monk, wearing hooded habit, holds lit tapered candles, beside Benedict of Montecassino, nimbus with rays, tonsured, wearing monk’s habit, seated behind draped trestle table laden with pitcher, knife, platter of food, dish and round loaves (?), he raises his right forefinger and extends his left forefinger to indicate kneeling monk, tonsured, wearing habit, with arms crossed on breast, accompanied by group of four monks, in hooded habits (three with only heads visible). Miniature, right compartment: In room, Proud Monk, wearing hooded habit, gesturing with both hands, before tonsured monk, wearing habit, raising right forefinger to indicate himself, accompanied by four monks, in hooded habits (only heads visible). Miniature within frame at end of Chapter 20 of Book II of Dialogues; Benedict of Montecassino knows the proud thoughts of one of his monks and dismisses him, the proud monk later confesses these thoughts to the other monks.