VMs f75r - Nymph Holding Spurtle

[Barbrey]

Note that the supposed man has several lines running down his left arm, giving the impression of a quick movement, as if his arm had just been under water and he lifted it out, with water trickling down. I find this remarkable, because all the other nymphs seem to be posing or making slow movements, whereas this one appears to have just made a swift gesture of pulling his arm from the water.

Yes, I meant to reply earlier, I think you’re right, but I still feel the Christian pose is compelling, particularly if this is the double metaphor of Christ/Stone falling from heaven, and standing up after landing in the sap. The illustrator is doing at least two things at once with this figure, in my opinion, but that’s just my gloss on it to fit my theory.

I did another quick search on rainbows and found a comprehensive summary on them in medieval times art Art24. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.

There was no picture but this quote caught my eye: “The rainbow was not only the sign of the covenant but was also understood as a sign of the heavenly body of Jesus on earth (Nicole Oresme ca 1325-82)”.  So this belief, prevalent today, is not an anachronism. 

None of the other rainbow iconography fits the little rainbow on You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. , nor does it fit the rainbow stage of alchemical process, which I believe I’ve identified on You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. .

But this description does fit this page given we have a possible Christ pose adjacent to a spike carrying figure (such spike being repeated, doubled, piercing a log on You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. , classic cruicifixion reference), and a canopy of heaven/terrestrial transition. I’m never 100% positive, but it hangs together for me if this is the double metaphor of Christ and Stone so prevalent in the alchemy of the time. 

@R.Sale, Oresme again!