Augustinian monks receiving the rule of their order from St Augustine 1635 - 1681

Giovanni Bonati sketched this drawing of Augustinian monks receiving their order's rule from Saint Augustine. Notice the book that St. Augustine hands down: historically, the book represents knowledge, law, and divine wisdom, present from ancient Egyptian times to the present day. Yet, the gesture of handing down the book echoes the handing down of the Ten Commandments. This motif also appears in the Roman tradition, where emperors pass down scrolls representing their laws. Think, too, of how the act of receiving a book might trigger deep-seated feelings related to authority, tradition, and enlightenment. The gesture carries the weight of history and is transmitted through time. This image is a potent symbol deeply embedded in our collective memory, engaging us on a subconscious level with cultural and psychological depth. As it resurfaces through time, it evolves and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.