15th century, Europe, fooleum, illumination, Latin, manuscript, Netherlands, primary source
This 15th century illumination of the Pietà is by the Master of the Lee Hours, an anonymous Flemish artist who contributed to a book of hours for Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy (r. 1467-77) and his wife Isabelle of Bourbon. The J. Paul Getty Museum, its current...
15th century, Europe, fooleum, France, illumination, Latin, manuscript, primary source
Fools frequently pop up in various guises in medieval illuminations, sometimes with a scriptural connection, illustrating the line from Psalm 53 in which the fool is one who denies God: ‘The fool says in his heart “There is no God.”‘...
16th century, Europe, Latin, Netherlands, primary source, quotes
According to Rabelais, kings and fools were born under the same horoscope. Perhaps that explains why we should be born one or the other, as outlined by Erasmus. One ought to be born a king or a fool. Aut regem, aut fatuum nasci oportere. Which would you be? ...
13th century, Europe, historical figure, Latin, primary source, quotes
The church had a complex relationship with fools; some priests or monks occasionally or regularly took on the fool’s role, and that is discounting the whole universe of ‘holy fools’. In addition, there were cardinals and popes who had their own court...
16th century, drawing, Europe, fooleum, Latin, Netherlands, primary source
​This pen and ink sketch in the margins of an early copy of Erasmus’ Praise of Folly is one of 82 done by Hans Holbein (1497/98-1543) and his elder brother Ambrosius. In this drawing, the self-appointed goddess Folly, having given a sermon of brazen...
4th century BCE, Europe, Greece, Latin, primary source, quotes, stories
An unusual account of a Greek jester who was persuaded to invite the artist Apelles of Kos (4th century BCE) to dine with the king despite knowing they had been estranged. When the artist was asked by the nonplussed king to identify who had invited him, he sketched a...
1st century, correspondence, Europe, historical figure, Italy, Latin, primary source, quotes
In a letter to Lucilius, Seneca comments unfavourably on his wife’s fool and on fools in general. He then goes on to tell us that Harpaste became blind and, revealing her foolishness, she asked her attendant to move her to other quarters as hers had become...
1st century, Europe, historical figure, Italy, Latin, primary source, quotes, Roman
Even Nero (r. 54-68), not noted for his niceness, allowed a certain latitude to his mocking critics and these were probably mimes – actors who could take it upon themselves to improvise on stage and send some satirical sallies out into the auditorium. Despite...
