Erlangen Epistle of Othéa

Erlangen Epistle of Othéa

103 large, page-wide miniatures adorn this valuable copy of Christine de Pizan's (1365–1430) first prose work. In luxurious golden frames, picturesque landscapes, intricate architecture and dramatic scenes stretch out in ornate demi-grisaille paintings. Only the skies in the background stand out in intense blue, studded with golden wisps of cloud. Numerous other gold leaf details make each individual miniature an opulent little artwork on its own and the manuscript as a whole a unique example of the Letter of Othea.

Grisaille Painting by Willem Vrelant

This masterpiece was created around 1460 by the famous Dutch illuminator Willem Vrelant (1410–1481/82) and his workshop in Bruges on commission from a high-ranking member of the Burgundian court – presumably for Duke Charles the Bold (1433–1477) or his mother, Isabella of Portugal (1397–1471). At the time of writing, Charles was a young man who was soon to take over the reign of his father Philip the Good (1396–1467), and thus a suitable reader for Christine de Pizan's moralizing deliberations.

A Guide to Chivalry

The author wrote the Letter of Othea around 1400, whereupon they enjoyed great popularity and distribution already during her lifetime. In 100 short letters, the fictional ancient goddess of prudence Othea gives the fifteen-year-old Trojan hero Hector moralizing advice which, if followed, will make him a true knight. The stories draw on various ancient mythologies such as the Trojan legends and Ovid's Metamorphoses, with which de Pizan was very familiar.

A Literary Educational Manual

Each of Othea's lyrical letters is introduced by a miniature. The images thus not only serve as a decorative visualization of the stories, but are also organizational elements of the text. The letters are also each accompanied by two subsequent prose commentaries - a glossary and an allegory - as well as a suitable Biblical passage in Latin. The latter are particularly emphasized in red display script. This work of courtly literature thus embodies de Pizan's 'pre-feminist' opinion on the social role of womenpar excellence: as mothers, they were responsible for the schooling as well as the religious and moral education and upbringing of their children. As such, they not only shaped the way families lived together, but also had a considerable influence on society as a whole. Accordingly, Pizan's work provides almost maternal, but no less artful advice for a righteous life.

The Unusual Life of an Important Woman Writer

Christine de Pizan is one of the most interesting, well-known female figures of the Middle Ages and is considered the first independent female lay writer in Europe. The basis for her success as an author, which already began during her lifetime, was the comprehensive humanist education she received from an early age. Her father, a Venetian physician, astronomer and astrologer, brought the four-year-old girl to the French royal court of Charles V in 1368. The French royal court was a center of the arts, a gathering place for the most talented artists and greatest names of the time, who were brought to Paris by the art-loving rulers. This courtly environment shaped and influenced de Pizan both in her way of life and thinking as well as in her artistic work.
Due to the early deaths of her father and husband, she became a widow at the age of 25 and from then on was the only provider for her three children and her mother. Instead of following the usual path and remarrying or entering a convent, she decided to use her exceptional education to become a copyist and author. Her works included secular and sacred poetry, a biography of King Charles V, a poem on Jeanne d'Arc, autobiographical writings and, above all, philosophical and moral treatises, mainly on the role of women in society.