23-03-2020, 02:32 PM
Hi Tobias
I (obviously) think that these are some very good questions. In most richly illustrated medieval books, there is at least some obvious indication that the contents was in line with Christian morality, or at least that the patron was a proper Christian. Some time ago I proposed manuals like the "Livre de Chasse" as instances of manuscripts where the human figures are exclusively found in non-religious contexts, but even here there tends to be something like an image of the patron praying to God or Mary. In short, to find a manuscript with so many human figures without reassuring links to familiar religious themes is unusual.
Until not so long ago, I would have stopped there and say, well, the VM is clearly made by or for someone who did not find Christianity important enough to have it interfere with his "scientific" imagery. This is one of the reasons why Jews are regularly proposed as the makers of the VM, or Turks, or ...
But I've done a complete 180 on that and now I think the MS actually hides the kind of devotional imagery that was popular in the early 15th century. So why would it smuggle such mainstream devotional images aboard what looks like secular/scientific imagery? (Note that this is far from widely believed and I think most people would still find it a bit crazy).
One possibility is, as you say, that the MS was made in, or for going to, an area where Christianity was frowned upon. Unfortunately I have not yet researched this, and I suspect it's a difficult subject if you really want to get to the bottom of it.
You see, the matter can be complicated in both ways. Some areas under Muslim rule would have been fine with Christian imagery within their borders. And these tolerances changed over time.
But on the other hand, it is also possible that some areas had a form of aniconism going on, where they forbade religious imagery. Like in the same way Muslims today forbid the depiction of the Prophet. So one possibility is that the VM supposedly depicts only plants, animals and personifications of abstract concepts (so no real people). But then secretly it hides imagery that could be used for private devotion. Like this a traveller could enter an area where the worship of images was strictly forbidden, but still carry his holy images with him.
Christianity in general has always had a difficult relationship with the worship of images. It's kind of forbidden in the Old Testament but at the same time it has always been an essential part of mainstream Catholicism.
[Apart from this, I also think it is possible that the VM images became as they are through a form of intellectual exercise, rather than through necessity].
I (obviously) think that these are some very good questions. In most richly illustrated medieval books, there is at least some obvious indication that the contents was in line with Christian morality, or at least that the patron was a proper Christian. Some time ago I proposed manuals like the "Livre de Chasse" as instances of manuscripts where the human figures are exclusively found in non-religious contexts, but even here there tends to be something like an image of the patron praying to God or Mary. In short, to find a manuscript with so many human figures without reassuring links to familiar religious themes is unusual.
Until not so long ago, I would have stopped there and say, well, the VM is clearly made by or for someone who did not find Christianity important enough to have it interfere with his "scientific" imagery. This is one of the reasons why Jews are regularly proposed as the makers of the VM, or Turks, or ...
But I've done a complete 180 on that and now I think the MS actually hides the kind of devotional imagery that was popular in the early 15th century. So why would it smuggle such mainstream devotional images aboard what looks like secular/scientific imagery? (Note that this is far from widely believed and I think most people would still find it a bit crazy).
One possibility is, as you say, that the MS was made in, or for going to, an area where Christianity was frowned upon. Unfortunately I have not yet researched this, and I suspect it's a difficult subject if you really want to get to the bottom of it.
You see, the matter can be complicated in both ways. Some areas under Muslim rule would have been fine with Christian imagery within their borders. And these tolerances changed over time.
But on the other hand, it is also possible that some areas had a form of aniconism going on, where they forbade religious imagery. Like in the same way Muslims today forbid the depiction of the Prophet. So one possibility is that the VM supposedly depicts only plants, animals and personifications of abstract concepts (so no real people). But then secretly it hides imagery that could be used for private devotion. Like this a traveller could enter an area where the worship of images was strictly forbidden, but still carry his holy images with him.
Christianity in general has always had a difficult relationship with the worship of images. It's kind of forbidden in the Old Testament but at the same time it has always been an essential part of mainstream Catholicism.
[Apart from this, I also think it is possible that the VM images became as they are through a form of intellectual exercise, rather than through necessity].