[split] f25v little dragon parallels

[-JKP-]

Eve and the Serpent, anonymous french translation of De Claris Mulieribus, Rouen, c.1440, BL Royal 16 G V , f. 5.

Here's a link:
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.

Good one, VViews, even down to the slightly ambiguous legs and the bumps along the neck. Different shapes in the VMS (rounder). Hard to say if the similarity is coincidental or inspired-by, but the overall look and feel is there.

[Koen G]

Does anybody else see it as if this thing has two little side-wings starting a bit above the base of the tail?

[Sam G]

Does anybody else see it as if this thing has two little side-wings starting a bit above the base of the tail?

That actually does seem like a plausible interpretation of those lines, now that you point it out.

[Linda]

A basilisk?

[-JKP-]

A basilisk is a good idea, Linda.

They are highly variable, just as drawings of tarasks (and dragons) are highly variable, but you located a good example with a mammal-head rather than a chicken head.

Here's another one with a mammal head:



BL Harley 4751 f59r

[Koen G]

This little fellow reminded me of the dragon, though they are likely unrelated. Take a guess what it's supposed to represent 

   

[-JKP-]

Is it a tapir?

[Koen G]

Is it a tapir?

No, though you get points for creativity

I'll provide some context. It's from a 5th-6th century ivory box made in Egypt. See You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view..
And the image: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
The creature stands between Athena and Juno/Hera and appears to be licking Hera's hand. It took me a while to figure out what is was so I'll leave the challenge open for now

[-JKP-]

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.

I'm stumped. It's certainly not a peacock, but it doesn't look like a calf, either, and the legs are too short for a baby giraffe. If it's a hare, then the nose is unusually long.

[Koen G]

My interpretation below:

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.

I'm almost certain it is a peacock, though it took me a long time to understand. It's critical that this was made in the 5th century, when artisans weren't necessarily understanding the pagan scenes they were supposed to depict. I think the "proof" lies in numismatics. One of Juno's standard poses is her standing with a stick in one hand, pouring from a plate in the other - with a peacock tilting its head up in order to drink the water.



The funny thing is that this artisan did not understand he was copying a peacock. He gets the beak and feathery body right, but he turns the feathers that hang down from the bird's head into big ears.



This is where I'm getting a bit speculative, but it looks to me like the final product is influenced by art the Egyptians saw around them. Like this Set animal: