Detail from a manuscript Franciscan Breviary of the XIV century, now in the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford. The miniature shows a Fool holding in his hand a glass ball, with reference to his divinatory abilities, while the face of God appears among the clouds. In this case, the Fool’s capacity to go out of himself is represented as a way to communicate directly with God.
In medieval iconography was diffused the image of the Fool in conversation with the king, having the function of clairvoyant and soothsayer. It was believed, in fact, that the divine spirit could take possession of his body and speak through the Fool’s mouth. From this point of view, there was a strict correlation between folly and mysticism (Gaignebet 1974, p. 51).

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