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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109. MS M.461, fols. 104v–105r
110. MS M.461, fols. 105v–106r
111. MS M.461, fols. 106v–107r
112. MS M.461, fols. 107v–108r
113. MS M.461, fols. 108v–109r
114. MS M.461, fols. 109v–110r
115. MS M.461, fols. 110v–111r
116. MS M.461, fols. 111v–112r
117. MS M.461, fols. 112v–113r
118. MS M.461, fols. 113v–114r
119. MS M.461, fols. 114v–115r
120. MS M.461, fols. 115v–116r

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.