Gallery of Grotesques: Sadistic monkeys

Manuscript B.11.22 is a book of hours produced in Flanders c.1300. The featured marginal ornamentation is captioned with M.R. James’ description.

It all starts out innocently enough …

Monkeys playing bowls. f. 5v

Monkey turning a somersault. f. 7r

… but things takes a sinister turn

Monkey and dog attack hare. f. 19r

Fox dragged by the feet by monkey mounted on dog. f. 22r

Monkey hangs hare by the ears. f. 42v

Two monkeys with axes, whetting them? on square table. f. 63r

Rabbits in a hill. Monkey approaches with axe. f. 137v

The manuscript was given to the College by a former Chaplain Dr Anthony Scattergood in 1671.