VMs (f80v) critter identified

[-JKP-]

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As far as subtle Christian imagery, there is the little sketch of the double rainbow. And there is also (on White Aries) the pairing of blue striped tub patterns, hidden heraldic insignia, which combine with the origins of the cardinal's red galero and the Fieschi popes, also intentionally disguised - lots of ambiguous trickery.

Yes, I agree. In fact, I've been looking into it and collecting examples for a few months. And, there is something else that might be relevant... in some manuscripts, angels are shown zooming around in little cloudband loges (their feet are not visible).

The "zoomers" that hold the feet of the VMS nymphs might be the same idea, suggesting divinity or some association with the heavens and stars in a traditional way but with the "zoomers" (the barrels/loges) simply drawn differently. Maybe the stars on strings are also the same idea. I don't know if it is expressly saying, "these are angels" (angels are common to many cultures), but perhaps something like that.

Some regions favored single or double rainbows, and some (especially Italy) favored a circular rainbow. There is overlap, of course, but there do seem to be patterns of preference as there was with zodiac imagery.

I've also noticed that some manuscripts use the arched rainbow for angels and the round rainbow for Jesus or God.

Less frequently rainbows are used to represent elements.

Rainbows are used in some depictions of Ovid but the rainbows in the VMS are arranged more like those in Bible-themed manuscripts than in illustrations of Ovid.

This is a quick grab of rainbows in the VMS. Note that all have a couple of nymphs nearby with their feet in loges. The angels and God in medieval manuscripts are represented with arched rainbows and sometimes God also has a circular or eye-shaped rainbow. The bottom half of the angels is sometimes cut off or in a cloudband: