Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Chronique universelle
Text and foliate borders: France, probably Rouen, ca. 1460. Six large miniatures: Bruges, Belgium, ca. 1470-1480. Nine small miniatures, blue borders, widow’s knots, monograms, plaques, scrolls, and heraldic arms: France, possibly Rouen, ca. 1519.
MS M.214 I, fol. 84r

See more information »

Two episodes, in narrative sequence beginning with scene in background:
1) Legend, Trojan War: Rape of Helen -- Fallen Greek soldiers, wearing armor, lie on ground around domed tower (City of Sparta), beside sea, with ship.
2) Legend, Trojan War: Helen presented to Priam -- Before gate and city of Troy, Helen, wearing headdress, seated side-saddle on horse, accompanied by two horsewomen, wearing headdresses, and two horsemen, wearing hats, followed by helmeted soldiers with spears, including one bannered spear, approaches man, with sword sheathed at waist, holding spear in right hand and hat in left hand, standing with dog and boy, wearing hat, and Priam, wearing crown, seated astride horse, accompanied by two men, wearing hats, astride asses, and followed by Trojans, including soldiers, some mounted and playing trumpets, including two with heraldic banners.
In right margin, fantastic animal, wearing hat, sits on saddle on ass. In lower margin, flanking arms of Fran³´ois de Baraton, are two hybrids, one winged, four-horned, with goat's head and pig's body, and at right the other, human-headed, wearing hat and playing trumpet, with bat wings and worm-like lower body.
Margins decorated with floreate ornament; outer margins of blue, with pattern of stars and the letter S.