R. Sale > 02-01-2021, 07:47 PM
Speaking of rings as we have previously, perhaps the nymphs with rings are a modified representation of the sort of "bride of Christ" ideology. Modified in the sense that one would *not* expect her to be seen with no clothes on, but then it is the VMs and so many other nymphs are in the buff.
Historically this occurs with Colette of Corbie and the Colettine Poor Clares.
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Historical data:
1) Occurs c. 1400-1450
2) Occurs (in part) in the Duchy of Burgundy
3) Supported by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy and his wife, Isabella
4) Two versions of Colette's biography have survived in Duke Philip's library and are in KBR.
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Also:
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Quoted from above:
"St Colette had a special devotion to St John the Apostle, who appeared to her on one occasion to place a miraculous ring on her finger. As he did so, he said: "by my own right and on behalf of the sovereign King and Prince of virginity and chastity." This ring was visible to all, and was a beautiful and very precious ring of gold."
[The 1313 text of The Apocalypse of S Jean, (BNF Fr. 13086 f 18), later in the library of Philip the Good, has an Agnus Dei illustration with the best structural similarity to the VMs 'critter' representation on f80v.]
Currently, as part of her confirmation, the Colettine sister "receives a silver ring".
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The ring identifies the bride. Once again the VMs artist is being tricky. Picture everyone naked, unless clothing or some other item is necessary to affirm their identity. Unfortunately, as investigators, we are operating on a sort of event horizon, a place where the apparently insignificant, historical details are on the verge of being lost in current references. Some details (papelonny) already have been omitted in some sources. The artistic obfuscation, when combined with the loss of historical details, presents a significant difficulty for VMs interpretation.