Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Des cas de nobles hommes et femmes
France, Paris, ca. 1475
MS M.342 fol. 77r

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Boccaccio: Text, De Casibus Virorum Illustrium, Book 3 -- Two scenes in continuous narrative, set in landscape with roads, trees, river, and city:
1) De Casibus Virorum Illustrium: Scene, Fortune debating Poverty -- Poverty, wearing hat, veil, and ragged clothes, holding staff in both hands, meets at crossroads marked by cross, decorated with sculptural decoration and three statues, Fortune, wearing pointed headdress (hennin) with veil and ermine-trimmed gown.
2) De Casibus Virorum Illustrium: Scene, Fortune struggling with Poverty -- Poverty, wearing hat, veil, and ragged clothes, holds wrist of and sits astride Fortune, wearing hennin and ermine-trimmed gown, lying on road.
Decorated initial P enclosing plant with two flowers.
In margins, ivy-rinceaux foliate ornament.