13-06-2024, 07:58 PM
The history on this goes back a decade to the discoveries of E. Velinska and is somewhat detailed. Basically, it suggests that there is a common structure to the cosmic diagrams found in the VMs, BNF, and Harley and that this structure is distinctive and has provenance to Paris in the first half of the 15th Century, at least for the two historical mss.
BNF 565, dated c. 1410, belonged to Jean de Berry, and Harley 334 [2nd qtr.] both have simplified, pictorial cosmic diagrams of three parts [Earth, stars, cosmic boundary]. They lack the standard multi-layered spheres of elements, *planets*, and heavens generally used. This uncommon structure is shared by the VMs cosmic diagram. However, regarding appearance, the VMs version of the inverted T-O Earth is referenced linguistically rather than depicted pictorially. This presents a maximum visual discrepancy, which also plays out in the stars, the cosmic boundary and beyond.
The mermaid is relevant because Harley 334 also contains a mermaid along with several other creatures, same as the VMs. A mermaid with fish, and a mermaid with sea monsters can be found in Lauber's illustrations. In these historical illustrations, it is a *generic* mermaid. In the VMs, it is not a mermaid. It is another being. Mermaids do not have thighs. It is Melusine of Luxembourg. She was considered ancestral to the Valois rulers of this era through Bonne of Luxembourg. In addition, Jean de Berry fostered several connections to the dragon-like version of Melusine of Lusignan.
There are additional Valois and Burgundian connections in the "Golden Fleece" investigation.
All of this tells me that the VMs artist possessed certain information that found its way into the illustrations in somewhat altered form and sometimes intentionally obfuscated (e.g. White Aries).
Would your artist have had that information?
BNF 565, dated c. 1410, belonged to Jean de Berry, and Harley 334 [2nd qtr.] both have simplified, pictorial cosmic diagrams of three parts [Earth, stars, cosmic boundary]. They lack the standard multi-layered spheres of elements, *planets*, and heavens generally used. This uncommon structure is shared by the VMs cosmic diagram. However, regarding appearance, the VMs version of the inverted T-O Earth is referenced linguistically rather than depicted pictorially. This presents a maximum visual discrepancy, which also plays out in the stars, the cosmic boundary and beyond.
The mermaid is relevant because Harley 334 also contains a mermaid along with several other creatures, same as the VMs. A mermaid with fish, and a mermaid with sea monsters can be found in Lauber's illustrations. In these historical illustrations, it is a *generic* mermaid. In the VMs, it is not a mermaid. It is another being. Mermaids do not have thighs. It is Melusine of Luxembourg. She was considered ancestral to the Valois rulers of this era through Bonne of Luxembourg. In addition, Jean de Berry fostered several connections to the dragon-like version of Melusine of Lusignan.
There are additional Valois and Burgundian connections in the "Golden Fleece" investigation.
All of this tells me that the VMs artist possessed certain information that found its way into the illustrations in somewhat altered form and sometimes intentionally obfuscated (e.g. White Aries).
Would your artist have had that information?