St. Augustine Leaving His Mother 1465

Benozzo Gozzoli painted this fresco of St. Augustine leaving his mother in the church of Sant' Agostino in San Gimignano, Italy, sometime in the second half of the fifteenth century. This image participates in the social construction of religious narratives by illustrating a key moment in the life of St. Augustine, an important theologian, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church. His mother, St. Monica, is often held up as a model of Christian motherhood. The scene emphasizes themes of devotion, sacrifice, and the primacy of spiritual calling over familial bonds, all central to the Church's teachings. Painted during the early Renaissance, a time when the church served as a powerful institution and major patron of the arts, works like this played a crucial role in reinforcing religious doctrine and moral values. Understanding its meaning requires attention to the historical, theological, and artistic conventions of its time. Careful study of religious texts, historical records, and the history of artistic patronage can shed light on the nuanced messages embedded in this work.