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Robert Polidori

Robert Polidori

Hyacinthe Rigaud, Louis XIV (detail), 1701

Hyacinthe RigaudLouis XIV (detail), 1701

Piero di Cosimo - Perseus and Andromeda (detail). 1510-1511

Piero di Cosimo - Perseus and Andromeda (detail). 1510-1511

Jan Rombouts
via

Jan Rombouts

via

Iphigenia in Tauris / Apollo slaying Python
House of the Vetti
Pompeii, Italy
1st century A.D.

Iphigenia in Tauris / Apollo slaying Python

House of the Vetti

Pompeii, Italy

1st century A.D.

the cat’s tower besieged by the mice
book of hours, London ca. 1320-1330.
British Library, Harley 6563, fol. 72r

the cat’s tower besieged by the mice


book of hours, London ca. 1320-1330.

British Library, Harley 6563, fol. 72r

entertainment in a medieval book

The margins of a medieval book are usually empty. This is handy, because it means you can place notes in them, or fill them with doodles, like here. In this particular case the reader decided to add spectacular illustrations to the margins. Not only do they show us snapshots of medieval individuals living their lives, which is special enough, the images are often also quite funny. Humour is not an unusual occurrence in such old books, as I showed here. However, to have this much fun in the margins is not very common.

Pics: Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Bodley 264 (14th c). Browse the entire manuscript here and start enjoying dozens more images.

iffranco:

Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart, Codex bibl. fol 23: folio 94v

Anal Fire, by James Mitchell in il bloggio di plainfeather 
 
I had been puzzling for some weeks over this picture in the Stuttgart Psalter (Paris, 820-830 CE) which illustrates Psalm 77, Verse 66: 
Et percussit inimicos suos in posteriora: obprobrium sempiternum dedit illos. (Vulgata)
 
And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach. ((KJV) 
 
Were these butt-rockets dispensed by the Lord for sodomitical transgressions committed by the victims? What other anal improprieties could have incurred the Lord’s displeasure?
 
The answer came to me immediately from the opening pages of Jeffrey Cohen’sMedieval Identity Machines, which reference King Alfred the Great’s problems with hemorrhoids. These hellish afflictions may have been more common in the Early Middle Ages than we have supposed. Or perhaps the artist, similarly afflicted and lacking Preparation H, postulated an act of divine retribution.
 
In modern times, piles of course were the subject of a very popular Johnny Cash song entitled “Ring of Fire.”
 


It’s actually Psalm 78. ^^

iffranco:

Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart, Codex bibl. fol 23: folio 94v

Anal Fire, by James Mitchell in il bloggio di plainfeather 
 
I had been puzzling for some weeks over this picture in the Stuttgart Psalter (Paris, 820-830 CE) which illustrates Psalm 77, Verse 66:
 
Et percussit inimicos suos in posteriora: obprobrium sempiternum dedit illos. (Vulgata)
 
And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach. ((KJV) 
 
Were these butt-rockets dispensed by the Lord for sodomitical transgressions committed by the victims? What other anal improprieties could have incurred the Lord’s displeasure?
 
The answer came to me immediately from the opening pages of Jeffrey Cohen’sMedieval Identity Machines, which reference King Alfred the Great’s problems with hemorrhoids. These hellish afflictions may have been more common in the Early Middle Ages than we have supposed. Or perhaps the artist, similarly afflicted and lacking Preparation H, postulated an act of divine retribution.
 
In modern times, piles of course were the subject of a very popular Johnny Cash song entitled “Ring of Fire.”

 

It’s actually Psalm 78. ^^

Ernst Fuchs

Ernst Fuchs

VERMEYEN, Jan Cornelisz.
 Judith with the Head of Holofernes c. 1525 Oil on panel, 65 x 47 cm Private collection

VERMEYEN, Jan Cornelisz.

Judith with the Head of Holofernes
c. 1525
Oil on panel, 65 x 47 cm
Private collection

Amiens, B. m., ms. 0200, f. 127 (St Michael and Satan). Book of Hours, use of Paris. Amiens, c.1460.

Amiens, B. m., ms. 0200, f. 127 (St Michael and Satan). Book of Hours, use of Paris. Amiens, c.1460.

cats’ habits 
Bestiary, England 13th century.
Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 764, fol. 51r

cats’ habits 

Bestiary, England 13th century.

Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 764, fol. 51r

The martyrdom of St. Leger, Bishop of Autun: his eyes are pierced with a drill. From a picture Bible, circa 1200 (northwestern France)

The martyrdom of St. Leger, Bishop of Autun: his eyes are pierced with a drill. From a picture Bible, circa 1200 (northwestern France)

A Medieval fiddler.

A Medieval fiddler.