Giovanni dall'Orto, frescoed by Aurelio Luini
St. Maurus
Second half of 16th century
Fresco
Church of San Simpliciano, Milan, Italy
The inscription on the pedestal reads maurus abbas, "Maurus the Abbot." The book and the in his left hand are common features in images of abbots. St. Maurus was more than just an abbot; he was Benedict's successor as head of the Benedictine order. This dignity seems to be what is intended by the gold cope and the mitre at his feet. A mitre at the feet usually signifies that the saint portrayed once declined an appointment as bishop, but I find no such suggestion in the literature.
Read more about images of St. Maurus.
Source: this page at Wikimedia Commons.
