Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Le mortifiement de vaine plaisance
France, Angers, between 1455 and 1460
MS M.705 fol. 44v

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Mortifiement de Vaine Plaisance: Parable of City under Siege -- Armored knight, with sword in right hand, stands on ladder in ditch strewn with bodies of fallen knights. He climbs toward top of city wall, defended by armored and unarmored men, with spears, and by women armed with stones. There are barrels atop the walls. In foreground are three cannons.