[Act I – Melibea] · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture · Center for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: [Act I – Melibea]
Subject: Spanish romances; Melibea (Fictitious character); Robes; Veils; girdles (belts); Flowers; Vases; Cupid (Roman deity); Wings; Windows
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: France; Paris (France); Kingdom of France
Description: This illustration depicts a female figure wearing a robe and a veil. She is holding the robe’s girdle cord in her right hand and another object in her left hand. To the left, flowers are emerging from a large vase. A small nude figure with wings is seen in the bottom right corner; we can infer that this is meant to represent Cupid. Based on the girdle cord (which is central to Melibea’s storyline) and Cupid’s presence, we can also infer that the figure is meant to represent Melibea. Based on the window in the top left corner of the illustration, through which hills and buildings are seen, it is likely that this scene is occurring indoors. This is odd, since Melibea first encounters Calisto outdoors, in her garden.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver);Nicolas Barbou (Printer); Anonymous (Engraver); Nicolas Barbou (Printer)
Type: StillImage; (Wood?) Engraving
Identifier: mta:18383
Source Name: Celestine en la quelle est Traicte des deceptions des serviteurs envers leurs Maistres/ et des Macquerelles envers les Amoureux
Parent Collection: 1542 Paris Barbou; 1542 Paris Barbou
Image: mta_18383_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Celestina
Subject: Spanish romances; Melibea (Fictitious character); Robes; Veils; girdles (belts); Flowers; Vases; Cupid (Roman deity); Wings; Windows

Media: mta_18383_OBJ.jpg