Between 1058 and 1087, Abbot Desiderius took over the leadership of Montecassino. Under his guidance, the monastery experienced an extraordinary cultural and artistic period. However, almost all evidence of painting, sculpture and architecture from this period has been lost. Today, the richness of this period is evidenced by the extensive library heritage linked to the commissions of the abbot, who loved and collected books and was a true bibliophile.
