The settings for these 'mermaids' is not very orthodox.
By their very nature, mermaids were used to illustrated far away places in the deep sea.
I would suggest that identifying these objects as mermaids would set the location as somewhere far away and nautical. And in anycase, the setting seems far too ripine for a mermaid.
So what are they? I have some thoughts but nothing ready for publishing at the moment. But I am concentrating on something continental, not nautical, in keeping with the general feel of the pages.
The Hunterian image, by the way, is not a very prominent image. It extends out of a initial on a page, and isn't very large at all. I suggest the only reason the modern curators fixated on it was because it is a rare example of an extension to a decorated initial, usually such decorations are confined to the inside of the letter.
Notwithstanding that, I admit there is a comparison to be made, and well done for spotting it.
By their very nature, mermaids were used to illustrated far away places in the deep sea.
I would suggest that identifying these objects as mermaids would set the location as somewhere far away and nautical. And in anycase, the setting seems far too ripine for a mermaid.
So what are they? I have some thoughts but nothing ready for publishing at the moment. But I am concentrating on something continental, not nautical, in keeping with the general feel of the pages.
The Hunterian image, by the way, is not a very prominent image. It extends out of a initial on a page, and isn't very large at all. I suggest the only reason the modern curators fixated on it was because it is a rare example of an extension to a decorated initial, usually such decorations are confined to the inside of the letter.
Notwithstanding that, I admit there is a comparison to be made, and well done for spotting it.