Artwork
Saint Benedict
Saint Benedict is a tempera painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Segna di Bonaventura. It dates from 1320 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The panel depicts Saint Benedict of Nursia, identifiable as the central male figure shown in three-quarter view against a gold ground typical of early fourteenth-century Italian religious painting.
Segna di Bonaventura’s rendering emphasizes the saint’s role as founder of Western monasticism, conveying his authority through frontal posture and a calm, authoritative expression. The work aligns with established iconographic traditions for Benedict, presenting him as a venerated religious leader rather than a narrative subject, consistent with the devotional function of such panels in the period.
Technique & Style
Segna di Bonaventura executed Saint Benedict in 1320 using tempera paint applied to a wooden panel support.
Segna di Bonaventura executed Saint Benedict in 1320 using tempera paint applied to a wooden panel support. The work measures 25.4 cm in height and 39.7 cm in width, adhering to the formal conventions of early fourteenth-century religious panel painting. As a religious genre piece, the composition centers on the depiction of Benedict of Nursia, utilizing the durable materials typical of the period's Sienese school. The painting is currently housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Saint Benedict is a tempera painting by Segna di Bonaventura, dated to 1320. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains located. No further information about its commission, earlier ownership history, or chain of custody prior to the museum's acquisition is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Segna di Bonaventura, a painter from the Sienese School active in the early 14th century, completed Saint Benedict in 1320. This tempera painting on panel depicts a solemn monk, rendered with the formal qualities characteristic of the period. The artwork is currently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a significant example of Sienese religious art from the Trecento.
Artist & collection
Artist
Segna di Bonaventura, also known as Segna de Bonaventura, and as Segna di Buonaventura, was an Italian painter of the Sienese School.
