Debate with a heritic -- Final End

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Date Posted: 18:40:35 06/10/02 Mon
Author: Drummond
Subject: Debate with a heritic

In a museum the other day, I came across the following painting, and wondered if anybody knew the story. Not much on the internet.

Entitled: Scene from the Life of Saint Thomas Aquinas: The Debate with the Heretic
1470, tempera on panel, 45.6 x 33.5 cm ( 17-7/8 x 13-1/8 in )

Bartolomeo degli Erri
active c1450 - 1495, Italian

Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco-San Francisco- CA

I could only fine the following explanation. However, my understanding is that Aquinas was at one time himself accused of heresy. So I wonder if the interpretation is accurate, considering that the identified heretic is flanked by what appear to be clergy.

The museum provides only this explanation:

Saint Thomas Aquinas lived from 1225 to 1274. He was a Medieval Theologian and a Dominican known for his strong anti-heretical outlook. Here he stands in the center axis of the picture calm and rational. The heretic raises his hand in disgust. Thomas stands on the side of the altar, where the church is full of light. The heretic is crowded on the left where darkness is but a step away. These are subtle, yet powerful religious symbols.

Saint Thomas Aquinas is also seen in the background kneeling at an altar in prayer.

Scale, perspective, and proportion are accurately and skillfully portrayed. (For more Bartolomeo, see �The Vision of Fra Paolino� below.)

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