The Scenes of the Fall in the Bibles moralisées

The Compositional Changes of Bible Images and Moralization Images

Abstract

In this article, I deal with the early four Bibles moralisées; the illustrated Bibles produced for the French royal family in the thirteenth century, and analyze the compositional changes evident between Bible images and moralization images in the scene of the Fall through the examination of texts and images, as well as poring through available manuscripts including the historical background. Every Bible image of the scene fundamentally places the serpent and the Tree of Wisdom between Adam and Eve. However, in moralization images, the first two manuscripts describe homosexual scenes, while the next two manuscripts depict idolatry and lust. There is no example of medieval manuscripts depicting homosexuality other than Bibles moralisées. Homosexuality was linked to "others", the targets of condemnation, especially to heretics, from the latter half of the twelfth century to the thirteenth century when the penalty for the sin of homosexuality came to be accepted as death. In addition, the subtle changes of Bible images, and the drastic change of moralization images can be explained from the circumstances of the recipients and the wedding of Louis IX.