What the Hell Are These Two Doing?
Two Men. A Floor. Absolutely No Explanation.
There are two men sitting underneath an illuminated architectural scene in the Hours of Jeanne d’Évreux.
What the hell are they doing?
One appears to be doing something with his hand behind his head.
The other appears to be holding something to his mouth.
They both look thoroughly miserable.
And I have absolutely no idea what is going on.
The Hours of Jeanne d’Évreux is a tiny 14th-century royal prayer book, illuminated in Paris by Jean Pucelle between 1324 and 1328. Measuring only about 9 × 6 cm, its margins are packed with dancers, apes, strange creatures and other drolleries.
Which brings us to these two.
Medieval manuscripts are full of scenes that make perfect sense once you know the story.
This is not currently one of them.
So: what do you think they're doing?
Source: The Hours of Jeanne d’Évreux, Paris, c.1324–1328, f.50v. Jean Pucelle. Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Cloisters Collection, 54.1.2. Public Domain / Open Access.