16th century, bibliography, Europe, French, journal paper, Netherlands, research, Spain
Cécile Beuzelin’s paper presents two 16th century double portraits, one by Antonis Mor (1519-75) and one anonymous (but previously attributed to Frans Floris). Both feature the dwarf Estanilao who served Cardinal Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle (1517-86), a...
16th century, Europe, France, French, primary source, quotes
Here we have Rabelais citing a proverb attesting to the capacity of fools to unravel knotty problems. See similar examples, including Sima Qian 司馬遷 (c. 145-86 BC), an historian something like the Chinese equivalent of Herodotus, and a 17th century German...
18th century, Europe, France, French, historical figure, primary source, quotes, stories
Folly, as Shakespeare taught us, can be used as a stalking horse, providing useful cover so that you can launch arrows of wit or criticism without too much risk of reprisal. A number of jesters ‘faked’ folly the better to enjoy the freedoms it could...
Europe, France, French, medieval, primary source, quotes
The mirror is a recurring theme in the history of folly, particularly in Europe, where there are many images of a fool holding up a mirror, whether to himself or to you, the bystander. This device can still be seen in some European carnivals.In China too, it is worth...
21st century, Europe, French, primary source, quotes
A comment by the cartoonist Chappatte about the need for humour even, or particularly during, times of stress; his observation came in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre. Today, as a tsunami of human and economic sickness is rolling over the world, humour, and its...
12th century, Europe, France, French, historical figure, medieval, primary source, quotes, stories
From the Roman de Rou, the 12th century verse chronicle of the Normans commissioned by the English king Henry II, in which the author Robert Wace mentions a jester of Duke William of Normandy (c. 1029-1087, later ‘William the Conqueror’). He recounts how...
14th century, Europe, France, French, historical figure, primary source, quotes
European court account books yield rich details concerning the kind of clothes provided to fools and jesters. They also provide insights into the apparently generous provision commonly made for them, raising serious doubts concerning the occasional notion that jesters...
16th century, Europe, France, French, primary source, quotes
Foolsareeverywhere.com is not a digital version of the book which informs and inspired it. Websites are ‘works in progress’, always evolving, never complete; it’s part of their complementary beauty and strength alongside print. As such, we...
