National Geographic History - 03.2020 - 04.2020

The City of Ladies

These miniatures are from a French 15th-century illuminated manuscript

of Christine de Pisan’s allegorical work, The Book of the City of Ladies.

Inspiration

Three Virtues—Reason

(holding a mirror), Rectitude

(a ruler), and Justice (a

vessel)—tell Christine to

build a city for heroines.

Consecration

Justice, Christine, and the

renowned women (right)

welcome the Virgin Mary and

the saints, crowned by golden

halos (left), to the city.

Protection

A wall is one of the first

things to be built in the City

of Ladies. Its bricks and

mortar will provide strength

and protection.

Habitation

With the city now

completed, the valiant

and virtuous women of

antiquity are invited to

enter the city.

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AKG/ALBUM AKG/ALBUM BNF/RMN-GRAND PALAIS BNF/RMN-GRAND PALAIS