SIGNORELLI, Luca
(b. ca. 1450, Cortona, d. 1523, Cortona)

Life of St Benedict, Scene 23: Benedict Drives the Devil out of a Stone

1499-1502
Fresco
Abbazia, Monteoliveto Maggiore

Scene 23 of the cycle on the life of St Benedict depicts Benedict driving the devil out of a stone.

Some scenes of the cycle depicts the range of tasks that had to be accomplished to maintain the monastery's self-sufficiency. Among these are the erection of churches and other buildings in accordance with the founder's precepts - often delayed by interference from the archenemy Satan. The Evil One is omnipresent: in this scene he makes a stone so heavy that the monks are unable to raise it until Benedict comes to their aid.




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