Medieval Illuminations

This striking image depicts a child born in Hungary with the head of an elephant, as noted in the Italian inscription below. Such illustrations were common in early modern 'books of wonders,' which documented biological rarities and mythical creatures as part of a growing interest in natural history and teratology.

This hand-colored illustration depicts a 'Tartar' captured during the wars in Hungary, as noted by the Italian inscription below. The figure is notable for his exceptionally long left arm, reflecting the manuscript's theme of documenting 'strange' human and animal forms. He is shown in traditional attire, equipped with a bow and a large spear, serving as both an ethnographic study and a record of a physical marvel from the early 18th century.