Reader in the Cosmos

In his thirteenth-century astronomical encyclopedia, L’Image du Monde, French cleric Goussoin de Metz attempts to guide readers knowledge of God by demonstrating the unity creation. This sense book as a tool be used reader is evident in BnF fr. 574. manuscript, likely painted Paris around 1320 for Guillaume Flote (1280–1366), an advisor Philip Fair, contains twenty-eight detailed diagrams. Although analyses such diagrams constitute large part study medieval memory, figures Image have not been considered within this context. Taking 574 case study, I will examine how Image’s serve mnemonic devices—physical, external locations where information from text can stored and returned later examination. argue that these images work simultaneously construct reinforce place broad system then propose three possible ways reading text: first order, iteration, finally motion. Finally, consider evidence previous owners’ engagement with interactions further incorporated them into Goussoin’s cosmology.