Reliquary Bust of St. Benedict of Nursia in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, August 2009

European Painting before 1900, Johnson Collection

Reliquary Bust of Saint Benedict of Nursia
Made in Italy, Europe

Late 15th century

Artist/maker unknown, Italian

Painted and gilded wood
22 x 23 inches (55.9 x 58.4 cm)

* Gallery 205, European Art 1100-1500, second floor

Cat. 1135
John G. Johnson Collection, 1917

Label:

This bust can be identified as the Abbot Saint Benedict of Nursia (died 547) by the portrait of his sister, Saint Scholastica (died 543), on the back of his cope. A reliquary, it would have contained a piece of the saint's remains. Although the sculptor is unknown, the painting is by the Florentine artist Biagio d'Antonio (documented 1476–1504).


Text from: www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/101809.html