Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Livre des merveilles du monde
France, possibly Angers, ca. 1460
MS M.461 fol. 51r

See more information »

Livres des Merveilles du Monde: Scene, Italy -- To left, cross surmounted church beside cross on stepped base; three tonsured clerics, wearing vestments, the foremost reads from book held in left hand beside two men, supporting by shoulders and legs corpse as mummy, above grave. In foreground, two nude men stand on pyre amid flames. In center, two men, standing on toes, raise arms to hoist man, wearing drawers, over brick wall, behind which are two horned devils (partly visible); another man, wearing hat, looks on. To right, man, wearing hat, stands in field with arms raised, in foreground, another man, wearing hat, lowers chain into well on shore beside swimming fantastic fish, with head and torso of monkey. Scene in landscape with castle and city in background, amid trees. Initial I of Italie decorated with foliate ornament. Miniature for Livre de Merveilles du Monde for Italy.