Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Des cas de nobles hommes et femmes
France, Paris, ca. 1475
MS M.343 fol. 35r

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De Casibus Virorum Illustrium: Scene, Fortune conversing with Boccaccio -- At top center, angel extends nude soul to God, wearing papal tiara and vestment, with right hand raised in blessing and with left hand holding cross-surmounted globe, in arc of heaven.
To right, in sky, personification of Fortune, with multiple arms, extends hands toward Boccaccio, wearing cap and ermine-trimmed mantle, at lectern on hill, holding pen to open book with pseudo-inscription.
At middle ground at left, on hilltop, is gallows from which hang four bodies. At base of hill is nude woman, standing with joined hands raised inside boiling cauldron set over fire. At center, four soldiers (knights), wearing armor and helmets, astride horses, joust (battle ?). Before them is pond with nude figure floating face down in water. On bank is woman, tied to stake, amid flames. At right is pope, wearing triple tiara, being stabbed in eye (?) by helmeted man.
In foreground, man, wearing conical hat, falls before man raising and aiming sword toward him. At center is hell mouth, emitting flames, into which two horned devils throw nude man and woman. At right, man, wearing hat that covers his eyes, raises sword in right hand and with left hand touches shoulder of king, wearing crown and ermine-trimmed mantle, turning to look at the man.
Decorated initial F enclosing two flowers.
In margins, ivy-rinceaux foliate ornament.