Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Vitae patrum
Italy, Naples, between 1350 and 1375
MS M.626 fol. 50v

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Paphnutius of Heracleopolis: Scene, Death of Good Neighbor and meeting Merchant of Alexandria -- Good Neighbor, depicted as tonsured and nimbed monk, eyes closed, wearing monk’s habit, with both arms crossed at waist, laying supine on ground beneath nimbed and nude soul of the monk borne to Heaven by pair of nimbed angels.
In center, Paphnutius of Heracleopolis, nimbed, tonsured, wearing monk’s habit, with sack slung over left shoulder, extends right hand toward extended hands of merchant, wearing hat over cap.
At far right, among three men on ship with mast, two pulling rigging and one, wearing cap, holding oar, the ship with three banners decorated with crosses.
Illustration of Rufinus of Aquileia, Historia Monachorum in Aegypto, Chapter 16.