Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Philosophy nourishing the seven liberal arts, with Arithmetic, Astronomy, Music and a fourth art instructing
Austria, Salzburg, second third of the 12th century
MS M.982v

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Four pairs of figures of Liberal Arts instructing male figures:
1) Personification of Arithmetic or Grammar, veiled, holding tablet or abacus in both hands, stands before man, wearing pointed cap, with scroll draped over right arm and pointing with right hand to his left hand, possibly counting on his fingers.
2) Man, with scroll draped over left arm, holding rod in right arm, seated, gesturing toward personification of Astronomy, wearing crown, winged, holding open book in left hand and with rod held in right hand pointing to stars and personifications of sun and moon in cloud-ringed sky.
3) Personification of music, playing harp, stands beside man, wearing cap, seated and playing harp.
4) Personification of Medicine (?), veiled, holding mortar and pestle, stands before satyr, horned, wearing loin cloth, with scroll draped over right arm and holding bunch of flowers in right hand.