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This is what you get when you have your manuscript illustrated by cloistered monks who aren’t allowed to go outside and see what a real horse looks like.
The thing is, artists often don’t have “make it realistic” as their primary objective.
I think they knew full well what they were doing. It’s undeniably goofy to anyone who’s seen a horse. That right there ain’t a horse. For one thing: it’s egg-shaped and, for another; it’s clearly about to get obliterated by the horse and rider on the left while brandishing an expression that reads “oh no I’m in for it now” like a Tom and Jerry cartoon.
This shit is hysterical and they knew it. Even if the artist had written out a confession of sincerity regarding their non-comedic intent I can’t imagine holding that egg up to that artist and asking,
“You expect me to believe this is your best attempt at a horse? Seriously?”
without that artist at least cracking a grin.
that is an egg with legs.
But at least the sideways horse got a big schlong!
That was the first thing I noticed too.
Medieval artists had no trouble depicting animals they had never seen based on a description by a guy who heard it from another guy who had sailed past Africa once. This is pretty good by that standard.
Dürer’s rhino is such an impressive instance of that (Wikipedia)
