One time visiting Angers (France) I found an exhibition of early music stuff at the chateau in Angers, France and noticed some picture of Morris Dancers. Sadly, time constraints meant that all I could do was take grab-shots of two of the pictures and the accompanying text. I've since been sent a scan of the one above: the one below, I've perspective-corrected but that's the best I can do..
The one above was captioned "Book of Hours, France, end of 15th Century". Jocelyn Reynolds tells me that the it is from Pierpont Morgan Library in NYC, where apparently this particular book of hours lives. The one below, right, was captioned "France, 1515" and Jeremy Kessler has identified this as being from the Freydal Codex PS 5073 fol 64, 1515. It's in the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien. Thanks, Jocelyn and Jeremy, I'm working on it. If anyone else knows more, or if you know who set up the exhibition, please email me... The chap at top left with the beard and pointy hat is my favourite, but the picture below is probably more important.
This appears to be six or more dancers and a fool, in a circle or a
set of three couples. If the latter, this is the earliest depiction of this style
of dance which I've seen (although I'm sure someone will put me right!)
The text accompanying this picture made the point that the
dancers' faces "are not blackened, but are covered with veils"
(the original French text is below).
From this I infer that there are other pictures extant from France where the faces are blackened. Since the comment was made in an exhibition about early music and dance in general, it's probable that these images are well-known in France.
I'm trying to trace these and other early pictures, but I find it hard enough to get time to research in British museums and libraries: when I can get to France, Germany or the US there tends to be a certain amount of pressure to visit tourist things rather than sit in libraries all day. So any help would be appreciated. If and when I find better or different images, I hope to be able to post them here, copyright permitting. If you own the copyright to these images, or know who does, please email me.
The original French text for the second photograph reads:
"Morisque au Debut de la RenaissanceMany thanks to the unknown exhibition constructor who put this together: I'm only sad that I didn't know what I'd seen until the pictures came back...
"accompagnement: GALOUBET - TAMBOURIN
"Des tresses de chainettes arrochees aux ceintures jouent la meme role que les grelots cousus aux costumes. Ici les visages ne sont pas noircis, mais recouvert d'une voilette"
(my emphasis - apologies for the butchered translation above.)
