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...
17th century, England, English, Europe, fooleum, painting, primary source, Stuart
This early 17th century painting of two jesters and a marotte (fool’s head bauble or stick) taps into the theme of ‘Who’s the missing fool?’ in which an image posed a visual quandary. The painting is entitled ‘We three...
18th century, 19th century, carving, England, Europe, fooleum, primary source
These charming carved jesters’ heads are thought to have been used as signs for apothecaries. According to the Wellcome Collection, which owns both examples, before the widespread use of street address numbers, such signs would have been used to help people,...
16th century, Europe, fooleum, Germany, Netherlands, painting, primary source, woodcut
Having posted individual notes on an enigmatic series of similar paintings, it feels time to pull them together in one place, also allowing the various finger-peeping fools to be viewed alongside each other. We will soon add some related prints and in the meantime,...
16th century, Europe, fooleum, Netherlands, primary source, tapestry
This lively 16th century tapestry includes a jester – capering or leaping – in full fool’s outfit. In addition to the cap and bells, he has bells around the bottom of his tunic and in leg bands like a Morris dancer. He is also waving a marotte...
16th century, carving, Europe, fooleum, Germany
How about this for serendipity: strolling around the V&A, I couldn’t believe my eyes when they spotted this drop-dead gorgeous towel-holder. Carved, painted and gilded oak, it was made in Northern Germany and the museum dates it to c. 1520-25. This would...
17th century, Europe, fooleum, Germany
It is unlikely that historical jesters wore the stock costume of ‘cap and bells’ so visible in medieval and some later iconography, and so prevalent in the Western conception of the court jester. Â So I was delighted and intrigued to spot this 17th century...
16th century, Europe, fictive fool, fooleum, Netherlands, painting, primary source
The last in this series of paintings (for now, I keep stumbling across new ones) bears a striking resemblance to our mysterious Moe No. 4. This one, too, I found on an auction site. Said to be the work of the Master of 1537, who worked in Mechelen and whose name...
