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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073. MS M.461, fols. 68v–69r
074. MS M.461, fols. 69v–70r
075. MS M.461, fols. 70v–71r
076. MS M.461, fols. 71v–72r
077. MS M.461, fols. 72v–73r
078. MS M.461, fols. 73v–74r
079. MS M.461, fols. 74v–75r
080. MS M.461, fols. 75v–76r
081. MS M.461, fols. 76v–77r
082. MS M.461, fols. 77v–78r
083. MS M.461, fols. 78v–79r
084. MS M.461, fols. 79v–80r

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.