ABSTRACT
Narrative illustrations in Paris 54 may be categorized under one of three headings: (a) completed miniatures; (b) unfinished miniatures, and (c) uninitiated miniatures.1 Only 22 text miniatures were actually completed out of a total number of 52.2 Five other miniatures remain in varying stages of completion, while 25 remaining miniatures received, at most, only a simple, rectangular red-ink frame. The individual miniatures of Paris 54’s narrative cycle have never been correctly identified.3 The confusion concerning the identity of some of the miniatures is exacerbated by the fact that the narrative cycle was never completed. The correct identification of the narrative cycle is essential in order to assess the relationship between the text miniatures of Paris 54 and Iviron 5. Once the respective scope of the two narrative cycles is known, then we are in a better position to evaluate the goals of Paris 54’s patron. This chapter provides the foundation for some of the important issues to be pursued in subsequent chapters. Here the narrative miniatures will be correctly identified and the three artistic personalities responsible for the figurative illustration of Paris 54 will be characterized. This chapter is devoted to stylistic analysis.
