MINIATURIST, Spanish
(active 1280s)

Book of Chess, Dice and Tables by Alfonso X the Wise, folio 91v

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

This manuscript was begun and completed in the city of Seville in 1283. It is a compendium of games composed of three parts: chess (folios 1r-63v), representing intellect; dice (folios 65r-71v), representing chance; and tables (folios 72r-79v), representing a combination of both. At the end of the manuscript (folios 81r-97v), new games such as alquerque, tables, and astronomical board are also included.

Folios 91r-93v consist of the Book of Alquerque (Libro del Alquerque). Alquerque is an ancient two-player strategy board game and the historical ancestor of modern Checkers. Players use 12 pieces each on a 4 × 4 grid interconnected by diagonal lines, aiming to capture all of their opponent's pieces by leaping over them into an empty space.

The miniatures on folio 91v and folio 92r depict two scenes with different boards. The explanatory texts under the miniatures have large initials E and O, respectively. Above the miniatures, the title of the Book of Alquerque (Libro del Alquerque), written in alternating red and blue capitals, is visible.