Book Cover 1343

This anonymous 14th-century Italian painting, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a scene of three individuals engaged in scholarly pursuits, likely monks. One monk is reading from a large red book, another is seated at a table, writing, and a third monk is holding a string of beads. The overall style of the painting is characteristic of the Sienese School, featuring vibrant colors and a simplified, two-dimensional aesthetic typical of the period. The inscriptions at the bottom likely refer to a book or a chapter within a book.