Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Vita S. Benedicti
Italy, perhaps in Padua, ca. 1450
MS M.184 fol. 38r

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Miniature, left compartment: Benedict of Montecassino: freeing Peasant from Galla -- Galla the Goth, wearing hat and full armor with spurs, extending rod in right hand, and groom, wearing draped headgear, both mounted on bridled and saddled horses, one horse wearing armor on head, feet in stirrups, the groom with right hand holds rope which binds wrists of peasant together behind his back, all before Benedict of Montecassino, nimbus with rays, bearded, wearing hooded monk’s habit, sitting with both hands on open book with pseudo-inscriptions on his lap. Miniature, right compartment: Groom, wearing draped headgear, leads one of two bridled horses, with saddle and armor, beside Galla the Goth, wearing armor, sword at waist and spurs, his hat on ground, kneeling with joined hands raised, before Benedict of Montecassino, nimbus with rays, bearded, wearing hooded monk’s habit, sitting on bench, with right hand raised in blessing and left hand on open book with pseudo-inscriptions in his lap. To right, through arched doorway, departs peasant, looking back over his shoulder. Scenes in grassy exteriors, before walls and arched portals of buildings, trees in background. Miniature within frame at end of Chapter 31 of Book II of Dialogues; Faithful peasant was bound and tortured by Galla the Goth, an Arian heretic, and when the peasant was brought before Benedict of Montecassino, by Benedict’s look, he was freed.