Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Fiore di vertu
Central or Southeastern France, ca. 1460
MS M.771 fol. 45v

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Philosophy as woman, crowned, seated on throne with feet on tripartite globe. In raised right hand she holds scroll inscribed DAME PHILOSOPHIE EN SON GRANT CONSEIL. She is flanked by 13 philosophers including Socrates, Pythagoras, Zabion, Omer, Tac, Sedechias, Hermes Trismegistus, Saquanwin, Zalon, Hippocrates, Diogenes of Sinope, Plato, and Aristotle. All are seated on two high backed, draped, benches (?), each holding scroll inscribed with name: SOCRATES; PITAGORAS; ZABION; OMER; TAAC; SEDECHIAS; HERMES; SQUALQUIN; ZALON; YPOCRAS; DIOGENES; PLATON; ARISTOTE (?). Behind the benches are seven on-lookers of whom two converse, and another holds left hand to head.
Scene in vaulted room with traceried windows open to outside.
Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament including columbine, and inhabited by hybrid man and bird. In lower margin, badly worn escutcheon probably decorated with arms of François de Rochechouart (barry-nebuly of five argent and gules).