Document Type
Article
Peer Reviewed
1
DOI
10.17077/1536-8742.2148
Abstract
In the Late Anglo-Saxon illustrated manuscripts of Prudentius's Psychomachia, vice and virtue are often shown ambiguously and the audience is encouraged to question what is male and what is female, and whether such categories are appropriate in understanding these illustrations. This paper utilises transgender theory to demonstrate how gender could be deployed in Late Anglo-Saxon manuscripts to question the roles of men and women with the ultimate aim of stressing the importance of righteous behaviours.
Acknowledgements
My deepest thanks to the following for their feedback and advice: Dr Heather Pulliam, Professor Catherine Karkov, the attendees at the 2018 Gender and Medieval Society Conference held at Corpus Christi College Oxford, and Dr Dorothy Kim. Thanks also to my reviewers for their insightful comments and encouragement.
Keywords
Anglo-Saxon, Psychomachia, Manuscripts
Rights Information
Copyright © 2019 the author(s). Images © British Library Board (Approval has been granted for publication.)
Recommended Citation
McGucken, Stephenie "Vice & Virtue As Woman?: The Iconography of Gender Identity in the Late Anglo-Saxon Psychomachia Illustrations." Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality 55, No. 1 (2019) : 42-63.
Figure 1. Virtues Rejoice. Psychomachia, © British Library Board, Cleopatra C. viii, fol. 30v.
Fig.2 31r.tif (24430 kB)
Figure 2. Virtues Return to Camp. Psychomachia, © British Library Board, Cotton Cleopatra C. viii, fol. 31r.
fig. 3 5v.tif (22804 kB)
Figure 3. Libido Attacks Pudicitia. Psychomachia, © British Library Board, Additional MS 24199, fol. 5v.
fig 4.tif (20296 kB)
Figure 4. Pudicitia Strikes Libido. Psychomachia, © British Library Board, Additional MS 24199, fol. 6r.
fig 5 6r.tif (17523 kB)
Figure 5. Pudicitia Stabs Libido. Psychomachia, © British Library Board Additional MS 24199, fol. 6r.
fig 6 6v.tif (17688 kB)
Figure 6. Pudicitia Rebukes (Deceased) Libido. Psychomachia, © British Library Board, Additional MS 24199, fol. 6v.
fig 7 23r.tif (17588 kB)
Figure 7. Avaritia Suckles Offspring. Psychomachia, © British Library Board, Additional MS 24199, fol. 23r.
Included in
Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Art and Architecture Commons, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Medieval History Commons
