RE: f82v: those rainbows
R. Sale > 24-12-2020, 02:40 AM
Linda,
There is no question that ambiguity leaves plenty of room for interpretation. In fact, I can't say that there is anything in particular that ties the VMs double rainbow to the history of Sainte Hostie. And actually the connection came about in another way. Instead, given that the Golden Fleece connects to Burgundy, and Melusine, as a mermaid, connects to Burgundy, the question is how could the illustration of the a double rainbow, as a potential 'throne of Christ', be connected to the Duchy of Burgundy?
And *BOOM*!! There it is. La Sainte Hostie de Dejon. Christ represented of a rainbow throne, with provenance practically identical to the Order of the Golden Fleece. Both of these were significant events of the time; they were connected in time and place. Both are much faded in the modern perspective, Sainte Hostie in particular. History has become obscure, a 'dark mirror', information has 'gotten lost'. That doesn't negate the historical validity, even tough some investigators may find certain details unfamiliar.
The rule of Philip the Good was a golden age of sophistication. Burgundy and England held Paris from 1420 to 1435. His third wife was Isabella of Portugal (m. 1430), commemorated by the origin of the Order of the Golden Fleece. In the 1440s, he had ships in the Black Sea. It's easy to underestimate the realities of that time.
The VMs artist was not seeking to clearly elucidate the realities of the time, but sought instead to ambiguously disguise and obfuscate them from others of the time, who would have known them as well. A variety of tricks have been employed, but once the reality behind the disguise is identified, the tricks of ambiguity can be exposed as well. (The VMs cosmos, Melusine, the Genoese Gambit on White Aries)