A friendly challenge for those who have not read my blog post in which I address some issues raised in this thread. This is what I believe to be a parallel example, though one that is more accessible since the line of transmission has been exceptionally well documented.
This image is from a 15th century Italian manuscript about the constellations. We see a kneeling naked man with a sword in one hand, and a satisfied man-skin in the other.
My questions are:
1) Who is this man? How do you know?
2) Why is he holding a man-skin?
3) If we go all the way back through the line of transmission, what are the roots of this image?
4) Af far as I know, this composition is unique. Is this the work of an author with a special world view?
This image is from a 15th century Italian manuscript about the constellations. We see a kneeling naked man with a sword in one hand, and a satisfied man-skin in the other.
My questions are:
1) Who is this man? How do you know?
2) Why is he holding a man-skin?
3) If we go all the way back through the line of transmission, what are the roots of this image?
4) Af far as I know, this composition is unique. Is this the work of an author with a special world view?

