bas-de-page

(French: “bottom of page”). In medieval illuminated manuscripts, bas-de-page scenes are unframed, sometimes whimsical images that appear below the written text and may or may not refer to it.

bas-de-page-yates-thompson-ms-8-f-269Bas-de-page, from a breviary. Yates Thompson MS 8, folio 269. 1302-1303. British Library, London.