‘Feminizing’ Saint Augustine’s City of God: Sister Veronica, the library and scriptorium at Santo Spirito, Verona

A rare Italian codex of Saint Augustine's 'City of God,' copied by nun scribe Veronica in 1472 at the Benedictine convent Santo Spirito in Verona, reveals how women religious interpreted and engaged with this influential text. Unlike known iconographic models, Veronica’s manuscript features unique pen-and-ink miniatures that convey emotional tension, philosophical depth, and allegorical mediation, offering a distinct visual and intellectual lens on Augustine's work. The study also highlights the convent’s vibrant scribal culture, supported by a c. 1475 library inventory and other extant manuscripts, showcasing both elementary and advanced devotional literature accessible to its community. This is the first analysis of a vernacular 'City of God' produced by a nun, shedding light on women's active role in medieval humanist practices and their unique contributions to religious scholarship.

Arthur, K. G. (2019). ‘Feminizing’ Saint Augustine’s City of God: Sister Veronica, the library and scriptorium at Santo Spirito, Verona. Renaissance Studies, 35(2), 188–211. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/rest.12659