Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Saint-Omer, between 1320 and 1329
MS M.754 fol. 31v

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Nine decorated initials of verses of Canticle, Te Deum laudamus, four enclosing heads of animals, one enclosing head of bird.
Upper and lower margins decorated with rectilinear bars.
Margin, upper, inhabited by mermaid, wearing fillet on snood, with hands raised and bearded hybrid man, wearing cap under hood.
Margin, left, inhabited by bird chained to bell with string-like tendril pulled by butterfly (Scene, Burlesque: Ringing Bell ?).
Margin, lower, inhabited by hybrid man with fish-line (?), and fish (Scene, Burlesque: Fishing ?).
Line endings decorated.