Christian Saints

St. Thomas Aquinas was born into a family of the Lord of Aquino, who sent him to study at the prestigious abbey of Monte Cassino, which belonged to Benedictines. But Thomas soon left the abbey and joined in the newly established Domonician University of Naples. His father, indignant at such behaviour, asked him back home, but a year later he gave in and allowed Thomas to enter Order's Napoletan abbey. In 1245 the Dominicans sent Thomas to the abbey St. James in Paris. His master there was Albert of Swabia, known as Albert the Great, famous theologian of his time. Thomas studied from him theology and philosophy. In 1256-1260 he occupied the professorial position in Paris university, then between 1265 and 1267 was professor of theology in Rome. Thomas ended his life in the Cistercian abbey of Fossa Nuova, Pope Urban V had his remains removed to Toulouse in 1369. Thomas was canonized in 1323 and made Doctor of Church in 1567. His love for wisdom and chastity made him one of the favourite characters of artists.
See: Domenico and David Ghirlandaio and Bartolomeo di Giovanni. Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Angels, St.
 Dionysius the Aereopagite and St. Dominic, Pope Clement and St. Thomas Aquinas.
Benozzo Gozzoli. Triumph of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Recommended reading:
The Book of Saints: The Lives of the Saints According to the Liturgical Calendar by George Angelini, Victor Hoagland (Editor). Regina Press, Malhame & Company, 1986.
365 Saints: Your Daily Guide to the Wisdom and Wonder of Their Lives by Woodeene Koenig-Brick (Author). Harper SanFrancisco, 1995.
15 Days of Prayer With Saint Thomas Aquinas by Suzanne Vrai, Andre Pinet. Liguori Publications, 2000.