Cy parle de flore ribaude des fleurs dessee appelle et feme de zephyre · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Cy parle de flore ribaude des fleurs dessee appelle et feme de zephyre
Subject: Zephyrus; Prostitution; Gods; Goddesses; Roman Mythology; Important Women; Famous Women; Flora
Period: 1400-1450;
Geographic: Italy; Ancient Rome
Description: This illumination depicts the famous, wealthy prostitute Flora sitting on the right side of the image. She is depicted looking to the left of the image where there are people engaging in sexual relations with one another, which symbolizes her life as a prostitute. Boccaccio explains that Flora used her wealth to have annual games held in her honour. He also explains that the Roman senate did not want a prostitute being honoured, so they fabricated a story which describes Flora being married to the wind, Zephyrus, who made her a goddess of flowers and trees.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Illuminator)
Type: Text; Illumination
Identifier: mta:19994
Language: frm
Source Name: Livre que fist Jehan BOCACE de Certalde des cleres et nobles femmes, lequel il envoia à Audice de Accioroles de Florence, contesse de Haulteville [Book from Giovanni Boccaccio of Certaldo called the cleric and noble women, of which he sent to Audice Accioroles of Florence, Countess of Haulteville]
Parent Collection: 1401 Florence
Image: mta_19994_OBJ.jpg