Koller View 1/21

3 Saint Benedict finds inner peace St Benedict stands in an antique architectural niche as an upright figure at peace with himself. In his right hand he holds one of his at- tributes, the rod, in his left a book. Representations of this type are known from numerous Italian forerunners, starting with Lorenzo Ghiberti, and they recurred again and again in frescoes and panel paintings. The soft sweep of his monk’s habit with its wide sleeves and his slightly tilted head somehow make the saint more accessi- ble within his austere surroundings. His face, full of character, and the seriousness of his gaze, which calmly leads past the viewer into the distance, appear both lifelike and otherworldly at the same time. Benedict captivates the viewer’s gaze, although only his head and hands are revealed. The artist invites the viewer to consider the des- tiny of the saint. His ‘Regula Benedicti’ – precepts for monastic living based on models from ancient Roman society – has long been con- sidered the cornerstone of Western monasticism. The narrow panel may have adorned a sacristy cabinet or an altarpiece. Because the monk’s habit is not black, as was customary among the Benedic- tines, but white, it can be assumed that the work was commissioned by a branch of the Benedictine order, such as the Camaldolese or the Olivetans. Recent art-historical research has attributed the fas- cinating picture to the young Filippino Lippi, who probably painted it at the beginning of his partnership with Sandro Botticelli, and as a fully trained painter and newmember of the Florentine painters’ guild around 1472–75. Filippino Lippi (1457−1504). Saint Benedict. Circa 1472/75. Oil tempera on panel. 63.3 × 23.3 cm. Estimate: CHF 40 000/60 000 Preview of the Old Master Paintings auction on 26 March 2021 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OLD MASTER PAINTINGS Karoline Weser weser@kollerauctions.com ONLINE CATALOGUES www.kollerauctions.com