"You Are Tying a Dolphin by the Tail" [fol. 17 recto]

French early 16th Century

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a kneeling figure with a fantastical creature emerging from water. The figure is dressed in a long, flowing garment with distinct, pointed headwear characteristic of a jester's cap. They are kneeling on a sloped ground, interacting with the creature. The creature resembles a mythical sea dragon with a sinuous body and ornate scales, emerging from a body of water that is subtly hinted at with a few undulating lines. The lines are delicate and the shading soft. The background is largely unadorned.