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)

Thumbnails

121. MS M.461, fols. 116v–117r
122. MS M.461, fols. 117v–118r
123. MS M.461, fols. 118v–119r
124. MS M.461, fols. 119v–120r
125. MS M.461, fols. 120v–121r
126. MS M.461, fols. 121v–122r
127. MS M.461, fols. 122v–123r
128. MS M.461, fols. 123v–124r
129. MS M.461, fols. 124v–125r
130. MS M.461, fols. 125v–126r
131. MS M.461, fols. 126v–127r
132. MS M.461, fols. 127v–128r

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.