24-01-2016, 07:31 PM
(This post was last modified: 24-01-2016, 07:38 PM by Diane.
Edit Reason: clarity
)
Don,
I looked at each of those traditions in detail, and a fair number of images from Latin Europe, not just in manuscripts but the range of media any person might encounter there at that time..
My conclusions you know, I think, but in essence: no fifteenth century Latin Christian in Europe could possibly have created this the imagery in this manuscript from his own imagination or from nothing but fifteenth century Latin manuscript art. By Latin European, I mean European Christian, excluding the Byzantine regions.
I'm not talking just about the figure you call a mermaid, here. I'm talking about the significance of particular images and particular details.
Thing is, everyone looks away from the difficult parts and concentrates on the few that look more familiar. So the reality of its 'foreign-ness' never had to be too upsetting.
Understandable.
But you see why I can't encourage hunts through yet more 15thC mss. From my point of view, they're the children or grandchildren, not the parent of what's in MS Beinecke 408.
Sorry.
I looked at each of those traditions in detail, and a fair number of images from Latin Europe, not just in manuscripts but the range of media any person might encounter there at that time..
My conclusions you know, I think, but in essence: no fifteenth century Latin Christian in Europe could possibly have created this the imagery in this manuscript from his own imagination or from nothing but fifteenth century Latin manuscript art. By Latin European, I mean European Christian, excluding the Byzantine regions.
I'm not talking just about the figure you call a mermaid, here. I'm talking about the significance of particular images and particular details.
Thing is, everyone looks away from the difficult parts and concentrates on the few that look more familiar. So the reality of its 'foreign-ness' never had to be too upsetting.
Understandable.
But you see why I can't encourage hunts through yet more 15thC mss. From my point of view, they're the children or grandchildren, not the parent of what's in MS Beinecke 408.
Sorry.