Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Fiore di vertu
Central or Southeastern France, ca. 1460
MS M.771 fol. 87r

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Plato: Scene, teaching -- Plato, wearing cap, and fur-lined hood, mantle and robe, gesturing, is seated on high-backed chair, the back covered with drapery decorated with roses. The chair is on platform, with draped desk on which is book inscribed PLATON EST INTERPRETE A COMPLI ET FUT. Two books are in compartment at front of desk. Scroll next to his head is inscribed PLATON. Small figure, wearing fur lined robe, carrying book, is next to the chair. At right are six men, one wearing cap and fur-lined robe seated on high-backed bench with open book on lap; one standing behind the bench; the other four in foreground, two back-turned, wearing hats, seated on bench; one wearing fur-lined garment, gesturing, and the last, wearing hat and fur-lined garment, holding scroll inscribed ARISTOTE. In foreground monkey sites on floor, possibly biting left hand.
Scene in room, with wooden ceiling, arch open to landscape, flanked by two traceried windows with stained glass, statue on wall above the arch of half figure of angel holding shield inscribed with cross, and another window at right.
Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament. In lower margin, partially effaced escutcheon probably bearing arms of Montmorency or Montmorency-Laval family (or a cross gules).