10-08-2022, 11:59 PM
Her origins are important and in the Middle Ages there were several variations of her mythology. The two I see as relevant to the VMs are the dragon-like, Melusine of Lusignan, and the mermaid-like, Melusine of Luxembourg. The Luxembourg mythology was ancestral to the Valois descendants of Bonne of Luxembourg. The Valois duke of Berry had connections to both versions of Melusine. The Valois duke of Burgundy initiated the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1430.
The VMs illustration seems to show an illustrated depiction of a 'mermaid and her friends' format, whether her "friends" are sea monsters or fish (as seen in Lauber or Harley 334). In these examples, the mermaid is a generic figure, same as the other creatures. In the VMs, the characteristics of the Luxembourg version of Melusine have been substituted for the generic mermaid as an indicator of the Valois significance in the history of the VMs C-14 era.
The VMs illustration seems to show an illustrated depiction of a 'mermaid and her friends' format, whether her "friends" are sea monsters or fish (as seen in Lauber or Harley 334). In these examples, the mermaid is a generic figure, same as the other creatures. In the VMs, the characteristics of the Luxembourg version of Melusine have been substituted for the generic mermaid as an indicator of the Valois significance in the history of the VMs C-14 era.