Nicholas of Morimondo

Nicholas of Morimondo is the master glazier of the abbey, a practical craftsman whose workshop produces and repairs the stained glass windows, reliquaries, and other glass objects for the monastery. His role places him at the intersection of art, manual labor, and the daily life of the community, and he becomes an unexpected but vital source of information for William of Baskerville. After the arrest of Remigio of Varagine, Nicholas is appointed the new cellarer, a testament to his competence and the abbot's trust in his administrative abilities.

Identity and Craft

Nicholas is introduced as the master glazier, working in a section of the smithy dedicated to glasswork. He is responsible for maintaining the abbey's windows and creating smaller objects, though he laments that the great art of stained glass has declined, saying, "We no longer have the learning of the ancients, the age of giants is past!" His workshop contains a collection of multicolored glass pieces and larger panes, and he is in the process of making a reliquary. He is a man of practical skill and curiosity, immediately fascinated by William's reading lenses, which he calls "Oculi de vitro cum capsula!" He eagerly asks to examine them, hoping to produce similar ones himself, demonstrating a craftsman's desire to master a new technique.

Role in the Investigation

Nicholas provides William with several key pieces of information. He is the one who tells William about the rumors of strange apparitions in the library, suggesting that the visions are produced by magic lamps rather than diabolical forces, a theory that proves correct. He also reveals the existence of a secret passage from the church to the Aedificium through the ossarium, a detail that allows William and Adso to enter the library at night. Later, after the death of Malachi, Nicholas becomes a crucial informant about the abbey's internal politics. He explains the long-standing resentment of the Italian monks, led by Alinardo of Grottaferrata, against the succession of foreign librarians, and he reveals that Malachi was widely considered a simple man who was manipulated by Jorge of Burgos. He also tells William that the position of librarian is traditionally a stepping stone to becoming abbot, casting the murders in a new light as a struggle for power.

The New Cellarer and the Fire

After the arrest of Remigio, Abbot Abo appoints Nicholas as the new cellarer, a position of great responsibility. Nicholas immediately takes charge, giving orders to the cooks and overseeing the daily operations of the kitchen. During the great fire, he displays considerable energy and initiative, shouting orders to the servants, directing them to fetch water, and trying to organize the panicked monks. However, his efforts are ultimately futile due to the chaos and the lack of a clear chain of command. He is last seen during the fire, his head wounded and his habit in shreds, kneeling in defeat and cursing the divine curse. His transformation from a skilled craftsman to a temporary administrator and then to a witness of the abbey's destruction encapsulates the novel's theme of order collapsing into chaos.