Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Poitiers, ca. 1475
MS M.1001 fol. 098r

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Miniature:
Male figure, wearing spurs and feathered hat hanging from shoulders, sits astride he-goat, genitals exposed. He fondles one of its horns with left hand and holds bird, possibly thrush or nightingale, in extended right hand. Label inscribed LUXURE identifies him as Lust. Figure within room decorated with patterned hanging.
Lower margin:
Devil, identified by scroll held in his left hand inscribed ASMODEUS, indicates two groups of figures within room, representing lust. In first group, three men surround woman (prostitute). One man, standing behind her, places hands on her hips. In second group, man, wearing feathered hat, puts hand up woman's skirt. She places left hand on his face and right hand on his shoulder. Second woman, raising left hand, looks on.