05-01-2018, 01:12 PM
Thank you Marco, that sheds some light on the matter. So it seems like the "humanist hand" theory was a promising lead for the VM's main text. But since it seems to have been a script characteristic of the second half of the 15th century, the carbon dating has closed that avenue.
This discussion stands separate from the figure of Sozomeno, but since Rene insists on keeping it to one thread, we shall keep treating both subjects in parallel.
When I first saw the drawings I was rather enthusiastic. I believe that the VM drawings are based on "discovered" older sources, so an Italian scholar who seemed to have been exposed to Voynich-like drawings seemed like a promising lead.
However, I think you hit the nail on the head when you say that this appears to be an unpolished reproduction of illuminations we are used to seeing in expensive manuscripts. The unpolished look combined with the naked figures is what really strikes one as VM-like, since we're not used to seeing these types of drawings often.
Upon closer inspection, though, I think the resemblance is only superficial. Sozomeno's drawing style is kind of "all over the place", for example switching freely between frontal, three quarters and profile view. Additionally, as you indicate, he is clearly influenced by standard illumination practices. There's kings, angels, humorous man-bird combinations and even scatological humor...
This discussion stands separate from the figure of Sozomeno, but since Rene insists on keeping it to one thread, we shall keep treating both subjects in parallel.
When I first saw the drawings I was rather enthusiastic. I believe that the VM drawings are based on "discovered" older sources, so an Italian scholar who seemed to have been exposed to Voynich-like drawings seemed like a promising lead.
However, I think you hit the nail on the head when you say that this appears to be an unpolished reproduction of illuminations we are used to seeing in expensive manuscripts. The unpolished look combined with the naked figures is what really strikes one as VM-like, since we're not used to seeing these types of drawings often.
Upon closer inspection, though, I think the resemblance is only superficial. Sozomeno's drawing style is kind of "all over the place", for example switching freely between frontal, three quarters and profile view. Additionally, as you indicate, he is clearly influenced by standard illumination practices. There's kings, angels, humorous man-bird combinations and even scatological humor...