Dead Queen in La Danse macabre des femmes, by Anonymous (1401, c.)

Dead Queen in La Danse macabre des femmes, by Anonymous (1401, c.)

This illustration appears in the third section: La Danse macabre des femmes (The Dance of Death of Women) of the manuscript Français 995.

Gender perspective: According to the text, the illustration represents the death of a Queen, it can also be seen that Virgin Mary appears above the Queen's tomb instead of Christ. The skeleton is represented with long blond hair and her hips are covered with a shroud.

The text in the manuscript reads:

"La royne morte.

Iestoye royne couronnee.
Plus que autre doubtee et craincte.
Quis suis icy aux vers donnee.
Apres que de mors fus attainte.
Sur la terre ie suis contrainte.
Destre couchee a la renuerse.
Pour quoy est dure ma complainte
Bien charie droit qui ne verse.

Prenez y qui me regardez.
Exemple pour vostre prouffit.
Et de mal faire vous gardez
Ie nen dis plus il me souffit.
Si non. car celluy qui vous fit.
Quant il vouldra vous deffera.
Deffaiz esties quant vous refit
Qui bien fera bien trouuera."

Anonymous

Illustration of Dead Queen in Manuscript Français 995 Section 3: La Danse macabre des femmes, by Anonymous (1401, c.). View 97, Folio 44r.
Bibliothèque nationale de France, France.
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b100212581/f97.item

Identifier: ark:/12148/btv1b100212581

Text from Dances of Death webpage:
http://www.dodedans.com/Eparis-bnf995-textq.htm

Archived in:
https://web.archive.org/web/20200108201813/http://www.dodedans.com/Eparis-bnf995-textq.htm

1401, c.

Illustration in manuscript.
Dimensions: 31.2 × 20 cm