07-08-2019, 12:25 AM
There are a number of lambs or sheep on altars or tables. There are various representations of divine figures enclosed in a vesica piscis. The purpose of my inquiry here is to find the combination of a lamb or sheep inside a vesica piscis - preferably on it own, preferably with blood or some other substance in the form of droplets as a way to compare with and better understand the illustration found in the "Apocalypse of S. Jean", produced in Liege in 1313.
The interest in this particular illustrations stems from the three part structure composed of the lamb, a cosmic boundary and collection of descending droplets, which is ostensibly equivalent to the structure of the VMs critter, nebuly line and the series of vertical lines found on f80v.
Only a few illustrations have been discovered that match the initial requirement of a lamb inside a vesica piscis, and none have the descending droplets seen in the 1313 apocalypse. One of the early English illustrations does show blood, but it is spurting into a goblet that is within the vesica piscis. The French illustration c. 1370-1390 has a vesica piscis combined with a cloud band, which is a technique also found in the 1313 apocalypse, but it has no blood.
The image from the 1313 apocalypse is the best structural match for the three parts of the representation of the VMs critter. It repeats the qualities that are seen in the comparison of the VMs cosmos with the cosmic illustration of BNF Fr. 565 fol. 23. It matches the structure point for point, while at the same time appearing to seek a maximum of visual diversity - a technique that seems to be intentional.
The 1313 apocalypse was known to be in the library of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, who died in 1467. While he did much to expand the library, it may have present earlier. There were also texts by Nicole Oreseme in the library. And Philip was the founder of the Order of the Golden Fleece which bears certain similarities to the VMs critter. No other proposed identification has a stronger foundation of evidence and other proposals can only claim the appearance of the VMs critter has some possible similarities with some animal found in another illustration, and only tries to match one apparent animal with another.
The interest in this particular illustrations stems from the three part structure composed of the lamb, a cosmic boundary and collection of descending droplets, which is ostensibly equivalent to the structure of the VMs critter, nebuly line and the series of vertical lines found on f80v.
Only a few illustrations have been discovered that match the initial requirement of a lamb inside a vesica piscis, and none have the descending droplets seen in the 1313 apocalypse. One of the early English illustrations does show blood, but it is spurting into a goblet that is within the vesica piscis. The French illustration c. 1370-1390 has a vesica piscis combined with a cloud band, which is a technique also found in the 1313 apocalypse, but it has no blood.
The image from the 1313 apocalypse is the best structural match for the three parts of the representation of the VMs critter. It repeats the qualities that are seen in the comparison of the VMs cosmos with the cosmic illustration of BNF Fr. 565 fol. 23. It matches the structure point for point, while at the same time appearing to seek a maximum of visual diversity - a technique that seems to be intentional.
The 1313 apocalypse was known to be in the library of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, who died in 1467. While he did much to expand the library, it may have present earlier. There were also texts by Nicole Oreseme in the library. And Philip was the founder of the Order of the Golden Fleece which bears certain similarities to the VMs critter. No other proposed identification has a stronger foundation of evidence and other proposals can only claim the appearance of the VMs critter has some possible similarities with some animal found in another illustration, and only tries to match one apparent animal with another.
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