Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

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

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Benedict of Montecassino: reviving Dead Child -- Accompanied by three tonsured monks, wearing habits, one holding sickle and one holding rake, nimbed Benedict of Montecassino, bearded, wearing hooded monk’s habit, cradles book in left arm, with right hand raised toward man (father), wearing short tunic, with knife tied on belt, gesturing. To right, beside tree, kneels the man, the three tonsured monks and the nimbed Benedict of Montecassino, tonsured and bearded, wearing monk’s habit, raising right hand in blessing and extending left hand to extended hand of male youth, with one leg bent, all before monastery gate. Scene in grassy landscape with trees and church and building, possibly monastery, in background. Miniature within frame at end of Chapter 32 of Book II of Dialogues; Benedict of Montecassino sees corpse of boy in the gate of his monastery, the boy’s father pleads with Benedict to save the boy, and after some discussion Benedict revives the boy.