Diagrams of the Universe: The Two-and-a-Half Continents, the Universe in the Shape of a Person, and the Seven Levels of Hell

The work, titled Diagrams of the Universe: The Two-and-a-Half Continents, the Universe in the Shape of a Person, and the Seven Levels of Hell, is a densely composed painting that fills its surface with a multitude of miniature scenes. A large circular motif on the left depicts a building surrounded by tiny figures and animals, while a towering human figure on the right grasps a grid‑like map. Beneath this figure, rows of small panels illustrate varied landscapes in red and green, populated by numerous characters engaged in activities ranging from flight to combat.

Executed in a bright palette, the painting employs meticulous, miniature rendering to pack narrative detail into each compartment. The artist uses a flat, diagrammatic style, favoring clear outlines and symbolic coloration over naturalistic modeling. Repetitive motifs, tiny flying figures, dancing forms, and fantastical beasts, create a rhythmic visual texture that guides the viewer’s eye across the complex surface.

During the period when such diagrams were popular, scholars attempted to reconcile geographic knowledge with religious doctrine, often depicting the world as a microcosm of the human body. The inclusion of the “Seven Levels of Hell” reflects the era’s preoccupation with moral order and the visualization of spiritual realms, a practice common in medieval and Renaissance manuscript illumination.