Registrum Gregorii

The frontispiece of the Registrum Gregorii, depicting Pope Gregory the Great writing, was inspired by a story of how he was given dictation by the Holy Spirit.

The story goes that while Pope Gregory was writing his sermon on Ezekiel, a curtain was drawn between him and his secretary, Deacon Peter.

When the dove took its beak out of the Pope’s mouth, he would begin to speak again, and Peter would continue to write down his words.

[5] Gregory is on the right, wearing a blue robe on top of other garments, and is sitting on a cushioned seat in front of a lectern.

There is a chandelier hanging over Peter’s head that is reminiscent of a crown, and the way his feet are angled illustrates reverse perspective.