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+--- Thread: Conjectures about the “man without attributes” ( f85r2 ) (/thread-4457.html)
Conjectures about the “man without attributes” ( f85r2 ) - bi3mw - 11-01-2025
Here we can speculate as to what the man in the top center might represent. My guess is the following:
1) The hooked nose is striking. In the Middle Ages, connections were made between a person's physiognomy and his characteristics. Polemon wrote:
Polemon: Textbook of Physiognomy
Chapter XXVI <Physiognomics of the nose>.
....
The nose of a vulture ... and blunt betrays fornication and a predilection for sensuality.
....
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2) The large ring also stands out, possibly indicating the man's high status.
3) The hand gesture with the accentuated fingertip of the index finger could represent the so-called “digitus virilis” (cf. Ger. eleventh/stiff finger 'the eleventh/stiff finger'). In the Rutland Psalter such a gesture is very probably depicted as marginalia.
We could therefore be dealing with a frivolous nobleman. Perhaps a metaphor for spring ? This is of course all highly speculative, but in my opinion quite possible.
RE: Conjectures about the “man without attributes” ( f85r2 ) - MarcoP - 12-01-2025
A couple of pointing men in an illustration of the Four Ages of Man, BL Sloane 2435 f31r, "Li Livres dou Santé", Aldobrandino of Siena, France, late 13th century. The bottom-left figure holds no other attribute.
I couldn't find a better image, this one is from You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. by John Anthony Burrow (1986).
EDIT: It's also interesting that the ages are not arranged in a circle, but as:
1 2
3 4
RE: Conjectures about the “man without attributes” ( f85r2 ) - Koen G - 12-01-2025
That's an interesting Image, Marco.
I wonder if the third man is supposed to be pointing at the youth above him, like a speaking gesture. Or if he's meant to point up at the sky (God) as a moralizing gesture (don't neglect the soul). Or both...
RE: Conjectures about the “man without attributes” ( f85r2 ) - MarcoP - 12-01-2025
Hi Koen, I was thinking of your second option, parallel to the rosary of the third age in the Karlsruhe Laufenberg. When one gets old, their thoughts turn to God and the afterlife, something like that.
RE: Conjectures about the “man without attributes” ( f85r2 ) - bi3mw - 12-01-2025
(12-01-2025, 08:10 AM)MarcoP Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.EDIT: It's also interesting that the ages are not arranged in a circle, but as:
1 2
3 4
That is indeed remarkable. So it is quite possible that “winter” and “spring” are opposite each other in a circular diagram if it does not necessarily have to go in sequence. - I share the assumption that the hand gestures also have a meaning (which I unfortunately do not understand, there are many).
RE: Conjectures about the “man without attributes” ( f85r2 ) - R. Sale - 12-01-2025
The sequence is the same as when a heraldic insignia is quartered.
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As to the pointing hand gesture, it does show up in various contexts. Finger #11 seems to have a sexual connotation, but the illustration might also be a reference to "Lo, how the mighty have fallen".
I thought you were going with 'the Nose' - Publius Ovidius Naso.
RE: Conjectures about the “man without attributes” ( f85r2 ) - R. Sale - 12-01-2025
Lucky me, I found one right off. Mr. Pointerfinger on the far left.
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RE: Conjectures about the “man without attributes” ( f85r2 ) - bi3mw - 12-01-2025
(12-01-2025, 07:26 PM)R. Sale Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Lucky me, I found one right off. Mr. Pointerfinger on the far left.
Yes, that seems to me to be a “harmless” pointing gesture. The raised left hand probably also has something to say, perhaps “Stop, hold your hand”.
RE: Conjectures about the “man without attributes” ( f85r2 ) - RobGea - 12-01-2025
Logic ( also dialectic ) is one of the trivium, a part of the studies in Liberal arts in Medieval education.
Dialectica from the Hortus deliciarum Herrad of Landsberg, Abbess of Hohenburg, ca. 1180
Nice pointing gesture though her other hand is problematic because she holds a barking dog's head (and of course this MSS is a little early).
"Logic (also dialectic) is the "mechanics" of thought and of analysis,
the process of composing sound arguments and identifying fallacious arguments and statements,
...Its aim is to calculate what is certainly true or false. "
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Note, grammatica (at 12 o'clock) holds a whip and a book :: the whip looks like one of the items in the hand of f86v4 west
RE: Conjectures about the “man without attributes” ( f85r2 ) - Koen G - 12-01-2025
In such MSS where everyone is pointing for no apparent reason, it may have something to do with the text. Particularly, I think it indicates that the pointer is talking to or about the thing or person they are talking at.
In Marco's image, without actually reading the text, I suppose that each man is dispensing advice to the man one step younger than him.
The second man advises the young man to appreciate the flower (youth). The third man's gaze is directed towards the second man, and the raised hand means he has something to say as well. The fourth man is dispensing advice to the third man.
Morality, memento Mori, take care of your soul etc. That's what I suspect this text may be about going by the pointing in the image.