Manuscript Leaf with Saint Benedict Resuscitating a Boy in an Initial D, from an Antiphonary

Art Historical Context

This exquisite manuscript leaf, created by the Master of thecardiana Lactantius the second half of the15th century, h from an antiphonary liturgical book containing chants sung during Catholic services. Nestled within a grand historiated initial "D," it vividly depicts Saint Benedict, the 6th-century founder of monasticism, performing a miracle by resuscitating a boy. This scene draws from medieval hagiographies, like those in Gregory the Great's *Dialogues emphasizing Benedict's sanctity and divine power, themes central to monastic devotion. Crafted in tempera, ink, and gold on parchment, the illumination showcases Italian late Gothic techniques transitioning toward Renaissance naturalism. The anonymous Master, named after a Florence manuscript, exemplifies Florentine illumination with delicate figures, vibrant colors, and shimmering gold heights that catch the light during chants. At just 5 15/16 x 6 5/16 inches, the scene's intimate scale invites close contemplation, reflecting the era's reverence for handmade sacred books amid the rise of printing. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Medieval Art collection, this leaf—generously gifted in 1896—offers a window into 15th-century Italy's cultural and spiritual life, where art served both worship and wonder.

About the Artist

Master of the Riccardiana Lactantius

The Master of the Riccardiana Lactantius is an anonymous Florentine illuminator active in the second half of the fifteenth century, named for his distinctive decoration of folios in Biblioteca Riccardiana MS 544, a manuscript containing works by the early Christian author Lactantius. Little is known of his early life or training, which remains sparsely documented, though like many illuminators of ...