# Life of St Benedict, Scene 7: Benedict Instructs the Peasants [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [SODOMA, Il]() - Date: 1501-1550 - Technique: Fresco ## Commentary Scene 7 of the cycle on the life of St Benedict depicts Benedict instructing the peasants of the vicinity who visit his cave, in the precepts of Christianity. Several scenes of the cycle deal with the conversion and instruction of those with whom the monks come in contact \(e.g. Scene 7\). Sodoma's characterization of types is very impressive. The simple peasants Benedict attempts to interest in the faith just outside his cave are delightfully exaggerated \(Scene 7\). One is afflicted with goiter, another appears to be a halfwit, and two are dressed in parodies of classical costume; the handsome shepherd on the right leans on his crook in the pose of a famous antique statue, the so-called Pothos. ## Related artworks - [Allegory of Celestial Love]() - [Benedict Presents the Olivetan Monks with His Rule]() - [Cupid in a Landscape]() - [Deposition from the Cross \(detail\)]() - [Deposition from the Cross]() - [Ecce Homo]() - [Flagellation of Christ]() - [Life of St Benedict, Scene 1: Benedict Leaves His Parent's House]() - [Life of St Benedict, Scene 11: Benedict Founds Twelve Monasteries]() - [Life of St Benedict, Scene 12: Benedict Receives Maurus and Placidus \(detail\)]() - [Life of St Benedict, Scene 12: Benedict Receives Maurus and Placidus]() - [Life of St Benedict, Scene 13: Benedict Frees a Monk]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()