Medieval sirens and mermaids

[Koen G]

Jonah imagery can be divided in a number of types.
There are scenes leading up to being swallowed by the whale, but those are not of interest to us. 



If the VM image is based on a Jonah example, it must be one where he emerges from the whale's mouth.
In the majority of cases I can find, Jonah is depicted in the orans pose. It had to be made clear to viewers that it was his continued dedication to God which saved his life.



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Some show him casually walking out, which I find pretty close to the VM image's vibe.

   

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There are still problems though. The VM figure is not Jonah; for starters, it is female with perhaps a hint of androgyny. Also, the pose is not one typical for Jonah, it appears to be customized for the VM page, looking up towards the figure overhead.

Also, the fish is drawn in a way that maximizes ambiguity. The eyes and moth opening don't match: both eyes visible imply a top-view on the head, but the mouth slit implies a side view. The opening has been made rounder and toothless. So with some goodwill you can see either a mermaid or someone standing in a fish mouth. Although the mermaid requires much more squinting...