02-01-2025, 09:58 AM
I must say that my views have (luckily) evolved a bit in the six years since I wrote that post. I used to very much think of the VM artists as mindless copying drones, but I no longer think that view is tenable. All parts of the MS reveal creative activity.
Pre-modern artists had a very strong tendency to update clothing to their own expectations. The message of an image was important, not the historical accuracy. And in order to convey that message (e.g. "a rich woman"), using clothing styles of their own time was essential.
I do stand by the idea that the Zodiac icons were likely one set from a pre-Lauber source. There is nothing in the VM indicating post-1430 fashion.
Pre-modern artists had a very strong tendency to update clothing to their own expectations. The message of an image was important, not the historical accuracy. And in order to convey that message (e.g. "a rich woman"), using clothing styles of their own time was essential.
I do stand by the idea that the Zodiac icons were likely one set from a pre-Lauber source. There is nothing in the VM indicating post-1430 fashion.