The World's Largest Public Domain Media Search Engine
Black crow and white raven from BL Harley 4431, f. 119

Similar

Black crow and white raven from BL Harley 4431, f. 119

description

Summary

Miniature of two birds, a black crow and a white raven, resting in trees, in 'L'Épître Othéa'. Image taken from f. 119 of Various works (also known as 'The Book of the Queen'), including 'Cent balades' (ff. 4-21), 'Le Débat du livre des ii amans' (ff. 58v-71), 'Le Livre des iii jugements' (ff. 71v-81), 'L'Épître Othéa' (ff. 95-141v), 'Le Duc des vrais amants' (ff. 143- 177v), 'Le Livre du chemin de long estude' (ff. 178-219v), 'Le Livre de la pastoure' (ff. 221-236v), 'Le Livre des Épîtres sur le Roman de la rose' (ff. 237-254), 'La Cité des dames' (ff. 288v-374), etc. Written in French.

The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in the British Library in London. The Harley Manuscripts are part of the larger collection known as the Harley Collection, which was assembled by Robert Harley (1661–1724) and his son Edward Harley (1689–1741). Robert Harley was a prominent English statesman and bibliophile, and he began amassing a vast collection of books and manuscripts in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

The Harley Manuscripts are known for their diversity and include a wide range of texts, including historical chronicles, illuminated manuscripts, legal documents, literary works, and scientific treatises. The collection contains over 7,000 manuscripts, and it is considered one of the most important manuscript collections in the British Library.

The Harley Manuscripts are numbered with the prefix "Harley," followed by a specific manuscript number. Each manuscript in the collection has its own unique content and history, and they cover a broad spectrum of topics and time periods. Some of the manuscripts in the collection are beautifully illuminated, with intricate illustrations and decorations.

Christine de Pizan ( 1364 – c. 1430) was an Italian-French late medieval court writer for Louis of Orleans, Philip the Bold of Burgundy, and John the Fearless of Burgundy and the French royal court during the reign of Charles VI. She completed forty-one works during her 30-year career from 1399–1429, both poetry and prose, biographies and books containing practical advice for women. Married in 1380 at the age of 15, she was widowed 10 years later. She needed to earn a living to support her mother, a niece and her two surviving children. She spent most of her life in Paris and then the abbey at Poissy, and wrote entirely in her adopted language, Middle French. Supported and encouraged by important royal French and English patrons, she influenced 15th-century English poetry. Her success stems from a wide range of innovative writing and rhetorical techniques that critically challenged renowned writers such as Jean de Meun, author of the Romance of the Rose, which she criticized as immoral. Certain scholars have argued that she should be seen as an early feminist who efficiently used language to convey that women could play an important role in society. This characterization has been challenged by other critics, who say that it is either an anachronistic use of the word or a misinterpretation of her writing and intentions.

date_range

Date

1400 - 1450
create

Source

British Library
copyright

Copyright info

Public Domain

Explore more

christine de pizan index christine de pisan
christine de pizan index christine de pisan