Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Vita S. Benedicti
Italy, perhaps in Padua, ca. 1450
MS M.184 fol. 35v

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Benedict of Montecassino: Miracle of Oil Flask -- Accompanied by dog, youthful tonsured Agapitus, wearing long belted tunic, crossing arms on breast, partly kneels before Benedict of Montecassino, nimbus with scallops, bearded, wearing hooded monk’s habit, holding book with left hand and with right hand extended to arm of tonsured monk, wearing habit. Scene before monastery exterior with fruit tree in background. Miniature within frame at beginning of Chapter 28 of Book II of Dialogues; Agapitus the Deacon goes to Benedict of Montecassino to request oil during a great time of scarcity. The Benedict instructs his monk to deliver the man what little oil the monastery has left, but the monk refuses.