Men bringing bags of lead into Saint Benedict's monastery 1687 - 1717

This etching, "Men bringing bags of lead into Saint Benedict's monastery", depicts a scene from the life of Saint Benedict. Created by the Italian artist Giacomo-Maria Giovannini between 1687 and 1717, the artwork shows a group of muscular men carrying heavy sacks of lead into the monastery, symbolizing the labor and dedication required for religious life. The artist’s use of meticulous detail and dynamic poses creates a sense of movement and exertion, highlighting the physicality of the task at hand. This etching, part of a larger series of prints depicting the life of Saint Benedict, is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.