Life of St Benedict, Scene 30. Benedict Foretells the Destruction of Montecassino 1508

Il Sodoma’s fresco *Life of St Benedict, Scene 30. Benedict Foretells the Destruction of Montecassino* (1508) depicts the moment when St Benedict, founder of the Benedictine order, foretells the destruction of his monastery, Montecassino. The fresco is set against a backdrop of the abbey itself and a panoramic landscape. The composition is dominated by a group of horsemen, representing the invading Lombards, who are depicted as a threat to the peace of the monastery. The scene is full of dramatic energy and tension, as St Benedict gestures towards the approaching enemy, signifying the imminent danger.