K významu drolerií ve středověkých rukopisech

• Authors: Pavel Brodský

Title variants

EN

To the meaning of droleries in medieval manuscripts

• Languages of publication: CS

Abstracts

EN

In the culminating and late middle ages funny scenes, the so called drôleries, appear in the borders of illuminated manuscripts. Th eir problems are not explained completely; they seem to contain hidden spiritual meanings. Besides singing birds, which are symbols of the unearthly sphere, fi gures appear most oft en who were taken as negative in middle-ages – owls, apes, beasts of prey, dragons, and clowns. Th e fi gures of antique mythology were perceived as negative too; the cults connected with them were perceived as demoniacism by the Christian society. Drôleries are usually placed in borders which are decorated with an acanth. Th e acanth in time became a symbol of victory over death. It can be also interpreted as Christ´s crown of thorns. In this way the spirit of medieval symbolism indicated that negative forces are driven to the margin and defeated by Christ´s victim.

Keywords

EN

Drôleries; illuminated manuscripts; Middle ages

Discipline

• HISTORY: HISTORY

• Publisher: Masaryk's Institute and Archives, ASCR
• Journal: Studie o rukopisech (Manuscript Studies)
• Year: 2010
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 279-286
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Pavel Brodský

• Masarykův ústav a Archiv AV ČR, v. v. i., Gabčíkova 2362/10, 182 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic