09-03-2021, 03:18 AM
Michelle, I was able to find an You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. about Frau Welt that says it is given various names in art and art-criticism including figura mundi, Sieben-lasterweib (seven-vices woman), Vice, or Frau Sunde (Dame Sin). It seems it derived from an earlier type of image in 13th century Germany of a woman who appears beautiful when viewed from the front, but viewed from the back she reveals horrible creatures and decomposing flesh. This was apparently supposed to warn of the moral corruption hidden in the world. In the 14th century the imagery was reconfigured so instead of beautiful front/hideous back, various different body parts are attributes for particular sins.
There's a very similar (but clothed) one in the You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. with the different sins labelled on the body parts. I don't know if the nude figure is typical of any more of these images, but yes, its meaning is clear and (once again!) not too far off from the Venus type.
There's a very similar (but clothed) one in the You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. with the different sins labelled on the body parts. I don't know if the nude figure is typical of any more of these images, but yes, its meaning is clear and (once again!) not too far off from the Venus type.