Monks
Abraham a Sancta Clara, real name Johann Ulrich Megerle, was an Augustinian monk and satirist, court preacher in Vienna.
Possessing an inimitable style of preaching that included folksy humor and harsh acrimony, Abraham was very popular with his contemporaries. He fearlessly scourged human vices, using both high pathos and puns, while conveying religious and moral messages. Some 600 of his recorded sermons on various subjects have survived.
Fra Angelico, a name synonymous with the serenity and purity of Early Renaissance art, was a Dominican friar and Italian painter celebrated for his devout and luminous religious works. Born Guido di Pietro around 1395 in Vicchio, near Florence, he later became known as Fra Giovanni upon joining the Dominican order at Fiesole. His monastic life profoundly influenced his art, reflecting a deep spiritual commitment and a heavenly tranquility. Pope John Paul II recognized his sanctity by beatifying him in 1982, officially bestowing upon him the title "Blessed" and affirming his legacy as a bridge between heaven and earth through his art.
Fra Angelico's technical prowess and innovative approaches to composition and color set new standards in the art world. He was initially trained as an illuminator, which is evident in the delicate details and luminous quality of his works. His art was not confined by his religious duties; instead, his position allowed him to advance the Dominican order's mission through visually compelling narratives that spoke directly to the viewer's soul. His works, including altarpieces and frescoes, are revered for their serene religious attitude and classical influence, embodying the Early Renaissance spirit that sought to harmonize Christian themes with the natural world and human emotion.
Among his most notable contributions are the frescoes at the convent of San Marco in Florence, commissioned by Cosimo de' Medici. These works display Angelico's mastery over perspective and his ability to create a spiritual atmosphere that invites contemplation. The Annunciation, one of his most famous frescoes at San Marco, exemplifies his use of architectural space to frame the sacred narrative, integrating the divine with the everyday. His altarpieces, characterized by their detailed figures and harmonious compositions, were innovative in their unified presentation of sacred stories, moving away from the segmented Gothic style towards a more cohesive and immersive narrative experience.
Fra Angelico's influence extended beyond his lifetime, shaping the trajectory of Renaissance art through his integration of humanistic principles with devout Christian faith. His works are preserved in some of the world's most prestigious museums, including the Museo Diocesano in Cortona, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Museo del Convento di San Marco in Florence, continuing to inspire awe and reverence among viewers.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, the legacy of Fra Angelico offers a window into the soul of the Renaissance, where beauty and spirituality converge. To stay informed about new product sales and auction events related to this pivotal artist, signing up for updates is a prudent step towards enriching one's collection with works that embody the zenith of religious and artistic expression in the Early Renaissance.
Cornelius Gerardi Aurelius, also called Goudanus, was a Dutch humanist scholar, writer, and historian.
Aurelius was a permanent canon (monk) of the Augustinian monastic order and is one of the first humanists of the Netherlands in the 16th century. He wrote poetry, historiography, hagiography, political and theological works. Aurelius also corresponded with many of the famous men of his day, especially Erasmus.
Pierre Bersuire, also known as Petrus Berchorius, was a French medieval writer, Benedictine monk, translator, and encyclopedist.
He was the leading French scholar of his time and friend of Petrarch, author of encyclopedic works on morality, and the first French translator of Titus Livy's History from the Foundation of the City. Very interesting for researchers is Pierre Bersuir's text Ovidius Moralisatus - written in Avignon in 1340 and spreading rapidly, it is a systematic allegorical analysis of the Metamorphoses, aimed at the current situation in church and society.
Bersuire was also an eloquent preacher and author of voluminous sermons.
Joachim Bouvet was a French Jesuit monk and missionary who worked in China.
Joachim Bouvet was one of six Jesuit mathematicians chosen by Louis XIV to travel to China as his envoys and work as missionaries and scholars. In 1687 in Beijing, Bouvet began this work, especially in mathematics and astronomy, and in 1697 the Chinese emperor Kangxi (1654-1722) sent him as ambassador to the French king. Kangxi expressed his wish that Bouvet should bring more missionary scientists with him. Thus, in addition to his scholarly work, Bouvet was also an accomplished diplomat and served as a liaison between the Chinese Emperor Kangxi and King Louis XIV of France.
Bouvet brought to France a manuscript describing Kangxi's life with an eye for diplomatic subtleties, as well as a collection of drawings depicting graceful Chinese figures in traditional and ceremonial dress. The first French edition of The Historical Portrait of the Emperor of China was published in Paris in 1697, and was subsequently translated and published in other languages. And Bouvet returned to China in 1699 with ten new missionaries and a collection of King Louis XIV's engravings for Emperor Kangxi. He remained in China for the rest of his life.
Johannes Busch was a major Dutch clergyman and reformed theologian.
As a monastic reformer and chronicler, the Augustinian canon of Windesheim, Johannes Busch is one of the most prominent figures of the Devotio moderna ("New Piety") movement in Catholicism. With his historiographical works Chronicle of the Monastery of Windesheim and Liber de reformatione monasteriorum he shaped the association of the Windesheim monastery and the late medieval observance movement.
Juana Inés de la Cruz or Juana of Asbaje, real name Juana Inés de Asbaje Ramírez de Santillananota, was a Mexican poet, scholar, and writer of the Latin American colonial period and the Spanish Baroque, and a Jerónimo nun.
Juana Ramírez was born into a poor family (Spanish father and Creole mother) and from an early age showed a burning thirst for knowledge and giftedness, but as a woman she was almost entirely self-taught. By her teens, she had already learned Greek logic and taught Latin to young children. She also learned Nahuatl, an Aztec language spoken in Central Mexico, and wrote several short poems in the language. At the age of 16, the girl was introduced to the court, and her intelligence impressed even Viceroy Antonio Sebastian de Toledo, Marquis de Mancera, and in 1664 he invited her to serve as maid of honor.
In 1669, at the age of 21, she took her tonsure at the Convent of Santa Paula of the Hieronymite Order in Mexico City, where she remained a recluse for the rest of her life. In the convent, Sister Juana enjoyed exceptional freedom: she continued to socialize with scholars and senior members of the court, amassed one of the largest private libraries in the New World, as well as a collection of musical and scientific instruments. Her plays in verse, poetry, and compositions for state and religious festivals were frequently and successfully performed at the palace.
Sister Juana was an outstanding representative of Spain's Golden Age: she was the last significant writer of the Latin American Baroque and the first great exponent of colonial Mexican culture. Sister Juana wrote sonnets, romances, and ballads, drawing on a vast store of classical, biblical, philosophical, and mythological sources. She also composed moral, satirical, and religious texts, as well as many poems praising courtiers, but she also defended women's right to education.
At the end of her life, due to pressure from religious dogmatists, Sister Juana had to sell her extensive library of some 4,000 volumes and return to strict reclusiveness. In 1695, the plague struck the convent and, while caring for her sisters, Juana died of the disease at about the age of forty-four.
Today, Juana Inés de la Cruz is a national icon of Mexico and Mexican identity as a prominent writer of the Spanish-American colonial period. The former convent where she lived is a center of higher education, and her image adorns Mexican currency.
Jacopo Filippo di Bergamo, or Giacomo Filippo Forèsti (Latin: Iacobus Philippus Bergomensis) was an Italian Augustinian monk, theologian and chronicler.
Jacopo di Bergamo was born into a noble family, received his ecclesiastical education at the local monastery, and early showed a penchant for literary work. After traveling in Europe, he took the tonsure and was abbot of monasteries, engaged in their improvement.
He is known as the author of a number of significant early printed works, a chronicler and biblical scholar. His Supplementum chronicarum (1483) is a universal chronicle that survived many subsequent editions. And De claris mulieribus, published in 1497, contains the first account of the voyage of the discoverer Columbus.
Kim En Joong is a South Korean Dominican priest, painter, stained glass artist and renowned artist.
Representing abstract landscape painting, his non-figurative canvases, nourished by new technical notions of space and perspective, impose a change of scenery, the starting point of a quest for divine mystery.
In his pictorial works, what is striking is the impression of "liquidity" or "fluidity" of the pigments used. Thanks to delicate, pure and clear colours, Kim En Joong creates a fairytale-like spectacle by playing on the liveliness of the tones and the subtle contrasts.
Joaquim Juncosa was a Spanish Baroque painter and Carthusian monk, whose work left an indelible mark on the art world. Born in 1631 in Cornudella, Tarragona, Juncosa's talent emerged early, nurtured in a family of painters. By 1660, he had joined the Carthusian monastery of Scala Dei, propelling his career and solidifying his reputation as a preeminent painter of the Catalan Baroque.
Juncosa's skill was not confined to a single genre; he was adept at both portraits and frescoes. His works, primarily commissioned by monasteries and private residences, reflected a distinct Baroque style tempered with a unique restraint. This style may have been influenced by his time in Rome and his exposure to Roman painting trends. Unfortunately, much of his work at Scala Dei was destroyed in the Ecclesiastical confiscations of Mendizábal in 1835 and the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
Despite these losses, Juncosa's legacy endures. His remaining works, including the twelve canvases of "Mysteries of the Rosary" at the Carthusian monastery in Valldemossa, Majorca, and pieces preserved at the Sant Jordi Fine Arts Academy and Museo del Prado in Madrid, continue to captivate art enthusiasts and experts alike. His ability to convey depth and emotion through his art makes him a celebrated figure in the world of Baroque painting.
For collectors and art and antiques experts, Joaquim Juncosa's works offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Spanish Baroque art. His paintings not only showcase his technical prowess but also provide an insight into the cultural and religious milieu of his time. To stay updated on new product sales and auction events related to Juncosa, sign up for our updates. Rest assured, our subscription is purely informational, focusing on bringing you the latest in the art world.
Athanasius Kircher was a German scholar, inventor, professor of mathematics and oriental studies, and a friar of the Jesuit order.
Kircher knew Greek and Hebrew, did scientific and humanities research in Germany, and was ordained in Mainz in 1628. During the Thirty Years' War he was forced to flee to Rome, where he remained for most of his life, serving as a kind of intellectual and information center for cultural and scientific information drawn not only from European sources but also from an extensive network of Jesuit missionaries. He was particularly interested in ancient Egypt and attempted to decipher hieroglyphics and other riddles. Kircher also compiled A Description of the Chinese Empire (1667), which was long one of the most influential books that shaped the European view of China.
A renowned polymath, Kircher conducted scholarly research in a variety of disciplines, including geography, astronomy, mathematics, languages, medicine, and music. He wrote some 44 books, and more than 2,000 of his manuscripts and letters have survived. He also assembled one of the first natural history collections.
Chérubin of Orleans (French: Chérubin d'Orleans), born François or Michel Lasseré, was a French monk of the Order of the Friars Minor Capuchin, physicist, and optical instrument maker.
Cherubin was engaged in the study of optics and problems related to vision. He designed the first binocular telescope, as well as a special type of spectacle in which the lens was replaced by a short perforated tube. Many of his binoculars, binocular microscopes and telescopes survive today. Cheruben is also credited with modeling the eyeball to study the functioning of the ocular lens.
About his research and work, Cherubin of Orléans published in Paris the works La dioptrique oculaire (Dioptrique oculaire, 1671) and La vision parfaite (Perfect Vision, 1677).
Raymond of Penyafort (Spanish: San Raimundo de Peñafort) was a Spanish theologian, canonist, and Dominican friar who is revered as a saint in the Catholic Church.
Raimondo was an adviser and confessor to the Pope in Rome as well as to kings, particularly James I of Catalonia and Aragon. Together with King James of Aragon and St. Peter Nolasco, he founded the Order of Our Lady of Ransom. The monks of this Order devoted themselves to saving Christians captured by the Moors. One of Raimondo of Peñafort's main goals was the conversion of Jews and Muslims to Christianity, and to achieve this goal he ordered Arabic and Hebrew to be studied and taught in the higher schools run by the Dominicans. He was also among those who founded the Inquisition in Catalonia.
Raimondo died at the age of 100 in Barcelona in 1275 and was canonized by Pope Clement VIII in the same year.
William of Rennes was a 13th-century French Roman Catholic monk, poet, theologian, and expert in canon law.
His commentaries and annotations on the works of the revered Catholic saint Raymond of Peñafort enjoyed almost equal authority in most manuscripts and early editions on academic theology and canon law. William of Rennes also wrote the epic of King Arthur, which is of interest to scholars of literature in that it was the first attempt to transform a medieval hero into a hero of classical eras.
Werner Rolewinck (Latin: Wernerus Rolewinkius) was a German chronicler, historian, and theologian.
Werner Rolewinck was a Cartesian monk. His best known and most important work is Fasciculus temporum, a history from the creation of the world to Pope Sixtus IV. Already during his lifetime this work was republished many times in Latin, French, Dutch, and German. Drawing on major Christian historiographical sources such as Orosius and Eusebius, Fasciculus presents the history of the world in the form of a genealogy, a traditional historiographical structure dating back to late antiquity.
Another famous work by Rolewink is a description of the manners and customs of his homeland entitled De laude veteris Saxsoniæ nunc Westphaliæ dictæ.
Shitao or Shi Tao (simplified Chinese: 石涛; traditional Chinese: 石濤; pinyin: Shí Tāo; Wade–Giles: Shih-t'ao; other department Yuan Ji (Chinese: 原濟; Chinese: 原济; pinyin: Yuán Jì), born into the Ming dynasty imperial clan as Zhu Ruoji (朱若極), was a Chinese Buddhist monk, calligrapher, and landscape painter during the early Qing dynasty.
Jan Verkade, birth name Johannes Sixtus Gerhardus Verkade, later changed to Willibrord Verkade, was a Dutch and German Benedictine monk, Post-Impressionist and Symbolist painter.
Jan was captivated by art from his youth and began studying painting at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam, later in Paris he met Paul Gauguin, Paul Sérusier and other Symbolists, which played a major role in his worldview. In the last years of the 19th century, Verkade joined the Nabis (Les Nabis), a group of Symbolist artists. Fascinated by esoteric mysticism, the Kabbalah and Eastern magical teachings, he, however, adhered to the canons of Christianity.
In 1893 Verkade went to a Benedictine monastery in Boiron, Germany, painted churches and monasteries, and in 1902 he became a priest and changed his name to Willibrord Verkade. He continued to paint until 1927, but was no longer able to reach the level of his French period, considered his best period. However, he made a significant contribution to the Beuron school of art, which was founded by a confederation of Benedictine monks in Germany at the end of the 19th century. Up until his death in 1946, Verkade led a reclusive life, writing several religious, historical, and scientific linguistic works over the years.
Ludolf of Saxony (German: Ludolf von Sachsen), also known as Ludolf der Kartäuser, was a Roman Catholic theologian and Christian writer of German origin.
The major work of his life was Vita Christi (Life of Christ), also known as Speculum vitae Christi (Mirror of the Life of Christ), completed in 1374. The book is not only a biography of Jesus, but also a history, commentaries by church fathers, and a series of dogmatic and moral reflections, spiritual teachings, meditations, and prayers. This work was very popular in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries and was first printed in the 1470s.
