Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index


  • Record Number: 7712
  • Author(s)/Creator(s): Paxson , James J.
  • Contributor(s):
  • Title: The Nether-Faced Devil and the Allegory of Parturition [The author argues that the representation of the devil with a face in place of its genitals draws on the allegory of childbirth and thereby demonizes the female sexual body].
  • Source: Studies in Iconography 19, ( 1998): Pages 139 - 176.
  • Description:
  • Article Type: Journal Article
  • Subject (See Also): Art History- Painting Body Childbirth, Image of Demons Devil Femininity Iconography Illumination of Manuscripts Misogyny Semiotics
  • Award Note:
  • Geographic Area: General
  • Century: 13- 14- 15- 16
  • Primary Evidence:
  • Illustrations: Twelve Figures. Figure One Devils and the damned at the Last Judgment, underneath Christ's throne, "Trinity College Apocalypse" (Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.16.2, fol.25r). Figure Two St. Patrick and the devil, "Le purgatoire Sainct Patrice," Paris, 1530. Figure Three "Filii perditionis and Antichrist" Hildegard of Bingen, "Scivias" (Eibingen, Bibliothek der Abtei St. Hildegard, manuscript facsimile, 1927-33, of Rupertsberg Codex, T.32/III, 11). Figure Four Fall of Lucifer, "Speculum humanae salvationis" (BNF, lat. 9584, fol.4v). Figure Five Fall of Lucifer, "Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry" (Chantilly, Musée Condé). Figure Six Satan in Inferno, Engraving after Andrea Orcagna (private collection). Figure Seven Hell Mouth, "Hours of Catherine of Cleves" (PML, M.945, fol.168v). Figure Eight Devils facing Earth and Harvest, "Trinity College Apocalypse" (Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.16.2, fol.17r). Figure Nine Satan enthroned, Pierre Boaistuau, "Histoires Prodigieuses" (Paris, 1560, 1597). Figure Ten Devil with pendant breasts, 2nd column, 3rd roundel, Psalm 50, "Moralized Bible" (BNF, lat. 11560, fol.12r). Figure Eleven The goddess Tlazoteotl in the act of childbirth (Washington, D.C., Dumbarton Oaks, D.O. B-71.A.S.). Figure Twelve Temple statue of the god Huizilopochtli, Allain Manesson Mallet, "Description de l'Univers" (Paris, 1683), vol. 5, 311.
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  • Related Resources:
  • Author's Affiliation: University of Florida
  • Conference Info: - , -
  • Year of Publication: 1998.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN/ISBN: 01481029