St Benedict and St Scholastica - Art Guide February 2026

This vibrant oil painting by Domenico Corvi represents the two great founder-saints of Western monasticism, St Benedict of Nursia and his sister St Scholastica, engaged in spiritual dialogue. Both saints were born in the Italian village of Nursia (Norcia), in Umbria, during the late fifth century. Scholastica is the focus of honour in this picture since her feast day falls on February 10th. She is traditionally regarded as the foundress of the Benedictine order of nuns since she established the first small hermitage about five miles from Monte Cassino, the abbey where her brother later resided with his fellow monks after leaving Subiaco. According to the medieval ‘Golden Legend’ of the saints’ lives, Scholastica would visit her brother once a year at a place near his abbey. There, they would spend the day together in prayer and discuss issues relating to sacred texts.