Probably Rome, late 17th / early 18th century

Medal of a saint, probably Saint Benedict

95 mm. x 75 mm.

This Italian Baroque bronze medal, an apparently unique and extremely fine cast with brown patina, shows a haloed saint in a monk’s habit. It likely depicts Saint Benedict (480-547), who is typically portrayed holding a similar processional cross and open book.

In the sixth century AD, Benedict founded twelve monasteries at Subiaco, near Rome. He is famous for writing the ‘Rule of Saint Benedict’, a book containing a set of rules for his fellow monks to follow. Benedict’s ‘Rule’ became the foundational text for Christian monasticism in the Middle Ages.

PROVENANCE:

Astarte, Lugarno, Switzerland, Vol. XIII, 2003, no. 1910

Please click here to enquire