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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049. MS M.461, fols. 44v–45r
050. MS M.461, fols. 45v–46r
051. MS M.461, fols. 46v–47r
052. MS M.461, fols. 47v–48r
053. MS M.461, fols. 48v–49r
054. MS M.461, fols. 49v–50r
055. MS M.461, fols. 50v–51r
056. MS M.461, fols. 51v–52r
057. MS M.461, fols. 52v–53r
058. MS M.461, fols. 53v–54r
059. MS M.461, fols. 54v–55r
060. MS M.461, fols. 55v–56r

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.