Visions Of The Knight Tondal, 1475 A.D.: Late Medieval Literature.

"Museum Collection

 

Ms. 30 (87.MN.141)

Les Visions du chevalier Tondal

1475

Simon Marmion (Flemish, active 1450 - 1489), and David Aubert (Flemish, active 1453 - 1479)

 

The Visions of the Knight Tondal tells the story of a wealthy and errant Irish knight, whose soul goes on a journey through Hell and Paradise with an angel for a guide. As a result of his experience, Tondal is spiritually transformed and vows to lead a more pious life.

 

Before Dante's Divine Comedy , the story of Tondal was one of the most popular in a long tradition of visionary and moralizing literature. Originally written in Latin in the 1100s by Marcus, an Irish monk in Regensburg, the story was later translated into fifteen vernacular languages.

 

The Getty Museum's manuscript of Tondal, written by David Aubert, was written in French ( Les Visions du chevalier Tondal ). It was commissioned by Margaret of York, duchess of Burgundy and wife of Charles the Bold. She was one of the most famous patrons of manuscript illuminators in a region that outshone even its rival, the kingdom of France, in its prolific patronage. The illumination is attributed to the French artist Simon Marmion. The Museum's manuscript is the only surviving illuminated copy of the text. In its twenty miniatures Marmion represented an extraordinary world of Paradise and Hell in vivid, often terrifying, but always naturalistic, detail."

 

"Titles by the Getty:

 

Tondal Suffers a Seizure at Dinner

 

Tondal Appears Dead

 

Tondal's Soul Enters Hell, Accompanied by his Guardian Angel

 

The Valley of Murderers

 

The Mountain of Unbelievers and Heretics

 

The Valley of the Perversely Proud and Presumptuous

 

The Beast Acheron, Devourer of the Avaricious

 

The Nail-Studded Bridge for Thieves and Robbers

 

The House of Phristinus; Punishment for Gluttons and Fornicators

 

The Beast that Eats Unchaste Priests and Nuns

 

The Forge of Vulcan; Punishment for Those who Commit Evil upon Evil

 

Demons Dragging Tondal into the Infernal Cistern

 

The Gates of Hell and Lucifer

 

The Wall of Heaven Where the Bad but Not Very Bad Are in Temporary Discomfort

 

The Good but Not Very Good Are Nourished by a Fountain

 

Two Kings of Ireland, Former Enemies, Who Made Peace before Death

 

The Happy Crowds of the Faithfully Married

 

The Martyrs and the Pure Sing Praises to God

 

The Glory of Good Monks and Nuns

 

The Wall of Metals and Jewels surrounding Angels and Saints"

 

Sources:

 

https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/103RWK

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getty_Tondal

 

http://monsterbrains.blogspot.com/2014/12/simon-marmion-visions-of-knight-tondal.html?m=1