Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Faits des Romains
Northern France or Belgium, ca. 1460
MS M.213 fol. 171r

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Julius Caesar: Scene, Civil Wars, Siege of Alexandria -- Julius Caesar, wearing gold visored helmet and heraldic coat of or with displayed double-headed eagle (partly visible and possibly arms of Holy Roman Empire), is on tower-like fortress with two other helmeted soldiers and man, wearing hat, three hold flaming bundles of wood, and one holds stone. Below them, among four ships, groups of men and soldiers, including Ptolemy XIII, all wearing turban-like hats or helmets, some hold spears, shields or aim arrow in bow, and two holding heraldic bannered lances, one decorated with three crescents; flames escape few ships. Scene on water against cloudy sky. Figures painted in grisaille. Decorated with ivy-rinceaux and floreate ornament in border above and below center margin, including daisies and strawberries, miniature within gold frame. Initial S of Seigneurs decorated with foliate and floreate ornament. Miniature for Chapter 1020 of Faits de Romains. See text edition, Flutre (1935-38): Part III, Chapter 15, Section 46, Caesar and the Pharaoh of Alexandria (Siege of Alexandria).