Abstract/Summary

The Occitan version of Paolino Veneto's illustrated world history (Avignon, c.1321-26) contains a genealogy of the kings of Egypt that has drawn attention recently in recent years because they are depicted as African rulers. This study compares the Egyptian king list with the Latin version that was produced in Venice and Avignon at the same time, which does not depict these rulers differently to their peers across other regions of Europe and the Middle East. It is suggested that the artists of the vernacular version made choices based on several factors: the political relationship between Venice, Avignon and Egypt in the 1320s ; crusading and anti-Islamic propaganda, and the Old French epic poetry. There is a broader consideration also of what is understood by 'race' in terms of medieval art.