Thebaide, detail Fra Angelico (1400-1455)

In this fragment of the painting Thebaide, we see a dramatic scene set in a rocky, barren landscape under a dark blue sky. To the left, a brown bear stands on its hind legs, its front paws reaching out towards a bearded man dressed in a monks brown habit and a white apron. The man, positioned to the right, kneels and seems to be gently holding the bears paws, his facial expression suggesting one of calm control or perhaps tenderness. Behind the man, a simple, pale building with a red-tiled roof is visible against a large, pale grey rock formation. To the left of the bear and behind it, another similar building is nestled against a smaller, rocky incline, with lush green palm-like vegetation sprouting from its side. Further back, a solitary tree with spiky fronds stands atop another rocky outcrop. The juxtaposition of the wild bear and the serene monk, set against an austere yet somehow verdant backdrop, creates a powerful visual narrative.
The subtext of this image likely refers to the hagiography of Saint Francis of Assisi, who is famously depicted taming a wolf (and sometimes other wild animals) in Gubbio. While this scene features a bear, the iconography is strongly suggestive of this theme of a saints peaceful dominion over nature, symbolizing divine grace and the taming of primal forces through faith and compassion. The desolate landscape might represent the wilderness or the internal struggles that the saint has overcome, while the presence of human dwellings suggests that even in such wild places, civilization and spirituality can coexist. The gentle interaction between man and beast symbolizes harmony and the triumph of good over potential danger, a common theme in religious art.