MINIATURIST, Spanish
(active 1280s)

Book of Chess, Dice and Tables by Alfonso X the Wise, folio 12v

1283
Manuscript (T-I-6), parchment, 404 x 274 mm
Real Biblioteca de San Lorenzo, El Escorial

The Book of Games was begun and completed in the city of Seville in 1283. It is a compendium of games composed of three parts: chess, dice and tables. Folios 1r-63v contain the Book of Chess.

Starting from folio 5r, the miniatures depict scenes in which two players generally appear, from all social classes: kings, queens, gentlemen, bishops, knights of military Orders, etc. In the middle, the two players play on the chessboard, on which the score of their game is clearly visible. Often, there are also voyeurs on the scene. The background of the composition is usually a Gothic building, but there is also a Moorish or a romantic one. The initials of the text accompanying the miniatures are in red or blue, with strumming decoration; the epigraphs are in red.

The picture shows folio 12v featuring the two players in front of a village house.