Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Vita S. Benedicti
Italy, perhaps in Padua, ca. 1450
MS M.184 fol. 34v

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Miniature, left compartment: Benedict of Montecassino: aiding Poor Man -- Emerging from arched portal at left, bearded man, wearing short tunic, with water-bottle tied to belt, crosses arms on breast (?), partly kneels before Benedict of Montecassino, nimbus with scallops, bearded, wearing hooded monk’s habit, seated on bench, raising right forefinger and with left hand holding open book. Miniature, center compartment: Emerging from arched portals, among four monks, wearing hooded habits, one is tonsured with left hand raised, two extend hands toward coins on wooden chest. Miniature, right compartment: Emerging from arched portal at left, bearded man, wearing short tunic, with water-bottle tied to belt, partly kneels, extending hands into which coins fall from extended right hand of Benedict of Montecassino, nimbus with scallops, bearded, wearing hooded monk’s habit, holding book with left hand. Scenes in rooms with arched portals and windows and wooden ceilings. Miniature within frame at end of Chapter 27 of Book II of Dialogues; Benedict of Montecassino miraculously finds money to relieve a poor man.