A strange - funny chess scene from Rutland Psalter ms - 13th c

from Rutland Psalter, Add MS 62925 f78v. Made in London in around 1260 & originally in the possession of the family of Edmund de Lacy, second Earl of Lincoln (d. 1258).

It attracted my attention. It's of the few illustrations I've seen where probably chess with dice is played [red rook on e1, 3 white squares/dice? on c7]. I've tried to search in the text for words like "scacus", "ludo", "alea" etc, but in vain. Maybe justified as in the official site-presentation is written that "Most of these illustrations are unconnected with the text of the Psalms themselves."

I think that there should be some story or legend behind it, or at least some symbolism. The game seems to be with dice, the two players seem to be of different classes. And what is showing/giving the poor guy? Hair? Fiber? Something like I have nothing else to bet??

Fascinating! I am sure that the lack of clothes and shoe on the one player is part of the story. Also interesting to see a black and white chequer board at that time. Nice!!👍😁

Yes, it looks to me more a story-like theme rather than an anti-chess propaganda. Cause the artist knew chess. The board is 8x8 and the pieces are tried to be similar. Red rook on e1, also a possible red king on h8 and a white on c1. But looking at the possible position, red is dominating the chessboard. And if on h8 is a red King, it's more possible that the poor guy on right is the winner-red. He's also more happy than the left.

Perhaps apropos of nothing, here is what HE Bird wrote in his Chess History and Reminiscences by (1893):

Forbes thinks it probable that chess was known in Italy before or during the ninth century, and suggests that it was probably received there from the Saracens rather than the Greeks. The story of Peter Damianus the Cardinal, (Ravenna) who lived 1007 to 1072, and his reproof of the Bishop for playing chess, is given by both of the writers, Forbes and Linde.

NOTE. Swiss in vol. 11, page 77, on the authority of Verci, says that the following adventure happened to a Bishop of Florence, who, according to Ughelli (Ital Sac tem 3), was Gerard, who died in 1061. It is told by Damianus, Bishop of Ostia and Cardinal in his epistles, and is confirmed by Baronius and Lohner. These two prelates were travelling together, and on a certain evening when they arrived at their resting-place, Damianus withdrew to the cell of a neighbouring priest, in order to spend the time in a pious manner, but the Florentine played at chess all night among seculars or laymen, in a large house of entertainment. When in the morning the Cardinal was made acquainted with this, he sharply reproved the prelate, who endeavoured to excuse himself by saying that chess was not prohibited, like dice. Dice, said he, are prohibited by the canon laws; chess is tacitly permitted. To which the zealous Cardinal replied the canons do not speak of chess, but both kinds of games are expressed under the comprehensive name of Alea. Therefore, when the canon prohibits the Alea, and does not expressly mention chess, it is undoubtedly evident that both kinds of games, expressed in one word and sentence, are thereby equally condemned.

The Bishop who was very good-natured stood corrected, and submitted cheerfully to the penance imposed on him by the Cardinal, which was: that he should thrice repeat the psalter of David, and wash the feet of twelve poor men, likewise bestowing certain alms on them, and treating them to a good dinner, in order that he might thus, for the glory of God and the benefit of the poor, employ those hands which he had made use of in playing the game.

It must have taken some considerable time before the game became so common as to be played at houses of entertainment by seculars or laymen.

hmmmmmmm.....

It could be based on it! Left guy's cloak could be a priest's one! And maybe a little humorous?!? As they actually played chess?

Moral: gamble and you'll lose your shirt?

Fat people are rich at that time. The right one is a priest and he thus loses his clothes by gambling in chess as @batgirl said.

Very interesting!

Right guy has something as a ribbon around the head. Maybe it indicates something just I don't know.

The problem for this moral [thought that too] is that right guy maybe won -> looking the chessboard

I search it on google. People fashion their hairstyle with ribbon at that time.

Have you ever seen the film 'A Knight's Tale'?

nope.

Nice clip. Tx.

Interesting.

Didn't remember the title but had watched it. Pleasant movie!

With psalter term I've found an other one in the British Library

Royal MS 2 B VII, f.198v and in here for more info.

Though here it looks more like a noble pastime of the 14th c.

Nice find!👍