Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Fiore di vertu
Central or Southeastern France, ca. 1460
MS M.771 fol. 71r

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Socrates: Scene, teaching (?) -- Socrates, wearing fur-lined hood, gesturing with both hands, is seated on throne with canopy; scroll, inscribed SOCRATES is next to him. Angel (?), with hands joined, hovers next to his head. On opposite side of room, three men, one wearing hat, one wearing cap, all gesturing, sit on bench or low wall; beggar, wearing headgear, raising bowl with left hand, supporting himself on crutch under left arm, his partially amputated left leg bandaged, stands before Socrates, and looks toward him.
Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament. In lower margin, escutcheon decorated with arms of François Rochechouart (barry-nebuly of five argent and gules).