Heilige Bernardus Tolomei c. 1576 - 1624

"Heilige Bernardus Tolomei" is an engraving by Italian artist Francesco Villamena, created sometime between 1576 and 1624. This etching depicts the saintly figure of Bernardus Tolomei, a founder of the Olivetan order of monks, looking upward towards the Virgin Mary and Child in a halo above. The engraving is typical of Villamena's style, which often featured precise anatomical detail and an emphasis on light and shadow. The inscription in the artwork, "Nomen alle queris! Bermanden dict the figene Munt Olt Dux," translates to "Who do you seek? Bernard, it is said, is the guiding spirit of the holy order." This piece provides a glimpse into the devout world of early 17th-century Italy, specifically the lives of monks and their reverence for saints and the Virgin Mary.