The abbey of Monteoliveto Maggiore which stands atop a spur of the Crete Senese, the barren, rocky country southeast of Siena, is one of the most important and best preserved monastic complexes in southern Tuscany. It was founded by the prominent and well-to-do legal scholar Giovanni Tolomei (1272-1348), who resigned his post as podestà of Siena and renounced his worldly interests to take up the life of a hermit. He was joined by two other men from Siena, Ambrogio Piccolomini and Patrizio Patrizi. The three built themselves shelters in this hostile landscape and over the years still others were attracted to the fledgling ascetic community. On March 26, 1319, the Bishop of Arezzo, Guido Tarlati, confirmed the congregation as a new religious order.

The abbey is constructed entirely of brick, and comprises a jumble of structures linked by three inner courtyards, or cloisters, of different sizes and with different functions. The Great Cloister (Chiostro Grande) around which the more important communal spaces are disposed was constructed in stages between 1426 and 1443. The cloister was frescoed by Luca Signorelli with nine scenes on the west side (1497-99) and Sodoma with twenty-eight scenes (1505-08 and after 1513). The fresco cycle is comprised of thirty-six Scenes from the Life of St Benedict; St Benedict Presenting the Rule to the Olivetans; Man of Sorrow; Christ Carrying the Cross.

The life of St Benedict is considered as a reflection and ideal of the monastic life. The exemplary nature of the scenes presented in the cloister at Monteoliveto Maggiore gives the impression that they were deliberately selected for their bearing on life within the monastery. Virtually all of the community's activities and concerns are reflected in them. The ultimate textual source for the Benedict cycle was the biography written by Gregory the Great in about 593-94, which tells the story of the important monastic founder in thirty-eight chapter.

Preview	Picture Data	Info
	The Great Cloister 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 1: Benedict Leaves His Parent's House 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 3: Benedict Repairs a Broken Colander through Prayer 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 3: Benedict Repairs a Broken Colander through Prayer (detail) 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 4: The Monk Romanus Dresses Benedict (detail) 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 5: The Devil Destroys the Little Bell 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 6: A Priest Shares His Easter Meal with Benedict 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 7: Benedict Instructs the Peasants 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 8: Benedict is Tempted (detail) 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 11: Benedict Founds Twelve Monasteries 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 12: Benedict Receives Maurus and Placidus 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 12: Benedict Receives Maurus and Placidus (detail) 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 13: Benedict Frees a Monk 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 15: Benedict Fishes the Pieces of a Broken Ax (detail) 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 19: Benedict Sends away the Harlots 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 19: Benedict Sends away the Harlots (detail) 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 30: Benedict Foretells the Destruction of Montecassino 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 30: Benedict Foretells the Destruction of Montecassino (detail) 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 31: Benedict Feeds the Monk 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 32: Benedict Appears in the Dreams of Two Monks 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Life of St Benedict, Scene 33: Benedict Gives Posthumous Absolution to Two Nuns 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Man of Sorrow 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore
	Benedict Presents the Olivetan Monks with His Rule 1505-08 Fresco Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore