Armonie fille guillon · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Armonie fille guillon
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Italy; Syracuse
Description: This illumination depicts a woman named Harmonia standing over the body of a servant girl disguised as Harmonia. Boccaccio explains that there was a rebellion in Syracuse against nobility, and because Harmonia was the niece of the king, she was in danger. Harmonia’s nurse disguised a servant girl to look exactly like Harmonia so that when the rebels came, the real Harmonia would be safe. This illumination depicts the servant girl who died in Harmonia’s place. She is depicted with a wound on her head and blood stained on her neck and shirt. Harmonia is illustrated with her hands together and a sad expression on her face. Boccaccio explains that Harmonia was saddened for losing such a faithful servant, however, she also admired the loyalty and bravery of the young girl.
Image Creator: Robinet Testard (Illuminator)
Type: Text; Illumination
Identifier: mta:18078
Language: frm
Source Name: Boccace, Des cleres et nobles femmes, traduction française anonyme [Boccaccio, The cleric and noble women, anonymous French translation]
Parent Collection: Boccace, Des cleres et nobles femmes, traduction française anonyme. Illuminations by Robinet Testard (1488-1496); Boccace, Des cleres et nobles femmes, traduction française anonyme. Illuminations by Robinet Testard (1488-1496)
Image: mta_18078_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Important Women; Famous Women; Noble Women; Devotion; Loyalty; Bravery; Rebellion; Harmonia

Media: mta_18078_OBJ.jpg