Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Livre des merveilles du monde (Marvels of the World)

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037. MS M.461, fols. 32v–33r
038. MS M.461, fols. 33v–34r
039. MS M.461, fols. 34v-35r
040. MS M.461, fols. 35v–36r
041. MS M.461, fols. 36v–37r
042. MS M.461, fols. 37v–38r
043. MS M.461, fols. 38v–39r
044. MS M.461, fols. 39v–40r
045. MS M.461, fols. 40v–41r
046. MS M.461, fols. 41v–42r
047. MS M.461, fols. 42v–43r
048. MS M.461, fols. 43v–44r

This manuscript contains numerous images of the real and imaginary lands that made up the medieval world. The miniatures are arranged alphabetically and typically focus on the various peoples, exotic costumes, unusual customs, and fantastic creatures of a particular region. Clearly intended to inspire marveling, the depictions are not terrifying or indicative of sin or disaster. Rather, they are designed for and from a Western perspective that considered distant lands and their inhabitants as strange, exotic, and captivating.