Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Histoire ancienne jusqu’à César
Belgium, ca. 1460
MS M.212 fol. 51v

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Legend, Thebes: Oedipus encountering Sphinx -- Oedipus, wearing helmet, full armor and spurs, his joined hands raised to his breast, is mounted on bridled and saddled horse before female sphinx, wingless, right hand raised, emerging from cave at right. Scene in rocky landscape with tree. Figures painted in grisaille. Margins decorated with foliate border above and below right column. Illustration of Book 3, History of Thebes. Initial Q of Quant decorated with heraldry of the Créquy family (or, wild plum gules).