The Flagellation is a rather endearing piece of artwork although - let’s not kid ourselves - its not really The Flagellation, rather it's The Dream of St. Jerome by Piero Della Francesca painted in 1455. For many years the panel was thought to be the moment in time where Christ is being flogged under Pontius Pilate, however in recent years it has been discovered that is not the case.

The dream consists of a young Jerome who is brought in front of a blinding and all encompassing light, and can not bring himself to look for the source. A judge sits in front of him and berates him with questions about his faith and devotion to God. Jerome answers he is a Christian, to which the judge corrects him and says he is a Ciceronian. Between his whippings, Jerome comes to the realization that his previous notions about the ancient Greek and Roman literary figures are distorted and ultimately destructive. Upon promising never to read another ancient text from his previous idols, he awakes unharmed but forever changed.

Leonardo Bruni, a Florentine humanist, talks about the importance of studying ancient Greek and Roman texts to supplement current teachings. In conjunction with Christian studies, he suggests that one also reads these early teachings. However, I argue that Francesca is ultimately trying to fight against the notion of incorporating such literature. Jerome basks in a marvelous light while he pays for his wrong doings and is shown the errors of his ways. The men on the side stand in a scholarly circle clearly unaware or indifferent to the torturous scene behind them. Francesca wants the viewer to understand that the revival of knowledge is enlightening only if that knowledge is derived from Christian lessons.