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.”‘...
13th century, Europe, fooleum, France, illumination, manuscript, primary source
​This outstanding illumination has a double dose of fools. The first is the fool who would presume to menace Christ, perhaps unique among fools for sporting a dog’s face, let alone his winged headgear. He also has what appears to be a fool’s...
13th century, Europe, fooleum, France, illumination, manuscript
Medieval illuminations are a rich source of fool imagery, sometimes deploying the fool for serious theological messaging, at others apparently due to mere whimsy on the part of the illuminator. Of the former, most common are depictions of a fool to illustrate the...
16th century, England, Europe, fooleum, historical figure, manuscript, primary source, Tudor
The Psalter of Henry VIII (r. 1509-47) was commissioned by the king who strongly identified with King David. This illumination has him playing the harp, as David did to ward off evil. It also features Will Somers, the king’s long-standing jester, whose...
16th century, Europe, fooleum, France, French, historical figure, manuscript, painting, primary source
This curious series of illuminations features the French jester Triboulet in various states of interaction with Death and others.There does appear to be a fairly clear narrative: Triboulet meets Death; Triboulet is struck down by Death; Triboulet lies in his grave...
