The question is whether 79v, 80v, 81v, and 82v create a sequence of images that has this sort of subtle 'agenda', to create / reveal this progressive focus on a particular historical time and place. Does the sequence exist?
First there is the matter of image comparison. Can the comparison be accepted? But there is a second factor. That is the matter of provenance and sources.
Can a strong comparison be accepted if it lacks provenance?
Can a moderate comparison be accepted if it has some provenance?
Can a poor comparison be accepted if it has strong provenance?
And when a comparison is poor, why is that? Traditions from nearly 600 years ago have been omitted from the current set of relevant information. Can an unrecognized comparison be evaluated in any way? The recovery of relevant tradition is problematic on this level from the modern, investigative perspective.
The situation is just the opposite from the 15th century perspective. The traditions are an immediate part of daily life. The VMs author needed to use tradition and history in order to make a comparison that is grounded in the real world, but chose to disguise them. The more obvious examples then require a greater effort at disguise, making those examples even more difficult to recover. A variety tricks have been employed. The flimsy connection is an opportunity for voluntary self-disqualification.
First there is the matter of image comparison. Can the comparison be accepted? But there is a second factor. That is the matter of provenance and sources.
Can a strong comparison be accepted if it lacks provenance?
Can a moderate comparison be accepted if it has some provenance?
Can a poor comparison be accepted if it has strong provenance?
And when a comparison is poor, why is that? Traditions from nearly 600 years ago have been omitted from the current set of relevant information. Can an unrecognized comparison be evaluated in any way? The recovery of relevant tradition is problematic on this level from the modern, investigative perspective.
The situation is just the opposite from the 15th century perspective. The traditions are an immediate part of daily life. The VMs author needed to use tradition and history in order to make a comparison that is grounded in the real world, but chose to disguise them. The more obvious examples then require a greater effort at disguise, making those examples even more difficult to recover. A variety tricks have been employed. The flimsy connection is an opportunity for voluntary self-disqualification.