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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085. MS M.461, fols. 80v–81r
086. MS M.461, fols. 81v–82r
087. MS M.461, fols. 82v–83r
088. MS M.461, fols. 83v–84r
089. MS M.461, fols. 84v–85r
090. MS M.461, fols. 85v–86r
091. MS M.461, fols. 86v–87r
092. MS M.461, fols. 87v–88r
093. MS M.461, fols. 88v–89r
094. MS M.461, fols. 89v–90r
095. MS M.461, fols. 90v–91r
096. MS M.461, fols. 91v–92r

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.