Water, earth and air

[R. Sale]

Nice illustration. The depiction is elemental based on the four classical elements. So, clouds or air are pretty much the same thing. Very similar designs were also used in religious illustrations, with more emphasis on the cloudy interpretation.

The VMs cosmos investigation is more than a decade old and originating in the central *inverted* T-O representation of the VMs Earth, in comparison with BNF Fr. 565 <as above> and also Harley 334 which has a couple cosmic representations, similar to the BNF - except for the cosmic boundary. Of course, when compared with the VMs, the differences in appearance are obvious. The switch from a pictorial representation to a linguistic presentation necessitates visual differences. The comparison is based on structure and the 43 undulations.

The provenance of the two historical texts points to Paris. [BNF, Paris, c. 1410; Harley, Paris, 2nd Q. 15th] Both dates fit fairly well within the averaged C-14 parchment dating of the VMs (1404-1438). Otherwise, the unique structural simplicity [There are no planets.] sets these examples apart from other cosmic representations of the era.

BNF was made for Jean, Duke of Berry, (d. 1416), then went to his daughter, Marie, Duchess of Auvergne (d. 1434). Harley - unknown.

Additionally, Harley has the mermaid and her four companions and that's another tale.