Babel2001 - Medieval Scrapbook

Hand gestures and their meaning in iconography and religious paintings.

Crivelli, Carlo. “St. George,” 1472. Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York.

Kerkhof, Debbie. “Transvestite Knights: Men and Women Cross-Dressing in Medieval Literature,” 2013.

In the Middle Ages, it was very common to wear a book case on the belt. Book of Hours, Bible, Breviary etc and they were thus at your fingertips.

This one is Italian, made between 1465 and 1485, in nicely worked leather.

back in the day medieval times was so big it covered all of europe. now its so small it fits in some restaurants

loose sketches of some Pelagien outfits... travelling and sleeping

notes under readmore:

the travelling outfit is based on some c13th and 14th sources which describe large hoods and cloaks

i opted to not do a particularly priest-y look - he's not trying to draw attention while moving

i am so aware of the debate on whether medieval people slept naked. 95% of the sources of people doing this are either from warm climates (like portugal) or depict nobles with access to good bedding and servants to heat their chambers - other people would probably sleep in underwear or specific sleep clothes. i've opted for a c14th set of a mens short undertunic and braies

i am making wild extrapolations as to what a guy with a very specific set of experiences (ftm . clericus vagans . autistic . lower middle class in the 1300s) would wear . allow a guy some creative liberty

Sancte Michael Memento Mei Ante Deum

Horae ad usum Trecensem dites Heures de Michel Berthier, 1415-1420

medieval peasant: I see... so, it is the case that there are many paintings within this magical book? it is not so strange after all.

me, trying to show him tumblr to scare him: I was kind of hoping this would be a bit more confusing to you

peasant, suddenly pointing at the screen: hark! cynocephali

it's funny although a little exasperating how artists designing "princess" or medieval-esque gowns really do not understand how those types of clothes are constructed. We're all so used to modern day garments that are like... all sewn together in one layer of cloth, nobody seems to realize all of the bits and pieces were actually attached in layers.

So like look at this mid-1400's fit:

to get the effect of that orange gown, you've got

chemise next to the skin like a slip (not visible here) (sometimes you let a bit of this show at the neckline) (the point is not to sweat into your nice clothes and ruin them)

kirtle, or undergown. (your basic dress, acceptable to be seen by other people) this is the puffing bits visible at the elbow, cleavage, and slashed sleeve. It's a whole ass dress in there. Square neckline usually. In the left picture it's probably the mustard yellow layer on the standing figure.

coat, or gown. This is the orange diamond pattern part. It's also the bit of darker color visible in the V of the neckline.

surcoat, or sleeveless overgown. THIS is the yellow tapestry print. In the left picture it's the long printed blue dress on the standing figure

if you want to get really fancy you can add basically a kerchief or netting over the bare neck/shoulders. It can be tucked into the neckline or it can sit on top. That's called a partlet.

the best I can tell you is that they were technically in a mini-ice-age during this era. Still looks hot as balls though.

Coats and surcoats are really more for rich people though, normal folks will be wearing this look:

tbh I have a trapeze dress from target that looks exactly like that pale blue one. ye olden t-shirt dress.

so now look here:

(this is a princess btw) both pieces are made of the same blue material so it looks as if it's all one dress, but it's not. The sleeves you're seeing are part of the gown/coat, and the ermine fur lined section on top is a sideless overgown/surcoat. You can tell she's rich as fuck because she's got MORE of that fur on the inside of the surcoat hem.

okay so now look at these guys.

Left image (that's Mary Magdelene by the way) you can see the white bottom layer peeking out at the neckline. That's a white chemise (you know, underwear). The black cloth you see behind her chest lacing is a triangular panel pinned there to Look Cool tm. We can call that bit the stomacher. Over the white underwear is the kirtle (undergown) in red patterned velvet, and over the kirtle is a gown in black. Right image is the same basic idea--you can see the base kirtle layer with a red gown laced over it. She may or may not have a stomacher behind her lacing, but I'm guessing not.

I've kind of lost the plot now and I'm just showing you images, sorry. IN CONCLUSION:

you can tell she's a queen because she's got bits I don't even know the NAMES of in this thing. Is that white bit a vest? Is she wearing a vest OVER her sideless surcoat? Girl you do not need this many layers!

master of the chronique scandaleuse from the poncher hours, depicts a woman kneeling with her prayer book before death. illuminated manuscript, artist jean pinchore, french, c. 1500