Baltimore, MD, Walters Art Museum W. 143, fol. 128r, 1325-1350 | MARGOT

Scene depicted

Genius's Sermon and Definitive Sentence

Detailed manuscript information (based on Roman de la rose digital surrogates of medieval manuscripts and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the Walters Art Gallery, 1(1989): 173-76).

Parchment, measure: 215x152mm, 2 columns of 40 lines, 143 fols. Completed in Paris (?) under northern French influence. 29 lines have been added to the end of the Rose:

Et puis que l [sic] ie sui esvellie
Du songe qui m'a travallie
Et mout y ai eu afaire
Ainz q[ue] ie peusse a chief traire
De ce que i'av oie entrepris
Mes toutevoie ai ie pris
Le bouton que ie desiroie
Co[nbie]n que travalliez m'i soie
Et tout le soulaz de m'amie
Maugre Dangier [et] Jalousie
Et maugre Raiso[n] e[n]sement
Qui tant me le da[n]ia form[en]t

[col. b]
Mes Amours m'avoit bien promis
Et ainssi le me dist Amis
Se ie servoie loyaument
Q[ue] i'avroie prouchainnement
Ma voule[n]te toute aco[m]plie
Foulz est qui en Dieu ne se fie
Et quico[n]ques blasme les songes
Et die que ce s[on]t menconges
De cestui ne le di ge mie
Car ie tesmoingne et certifie
Que tout qu[an] que ai recite
Est fine et pure verite
Explicit le [sic]
Ou l'art d'amours est toute enclose
Ce livre de la Rose est
de Jehan de meun et
de G..... de. .......

Roman de la rose digital surrogates of medieval manuscripts

Miniature description

Size:

215x152mm

Column miniature

Height: 10 lines

Materials:

Parchment

Gold leaf, red, blue, brown, white, pink

Initials:

Blue foliate initial "D" over a gold leaf background, with blue and red foliate extenders springing upwards and downwards, partially framing the text and the miniature.

Rubric:

Directly above miniature: "Ci commence genius son sarmon"

Frame:

Simple gold leaf thin exterior frame with gold leaf cornerpieces, over a broader inner blue frame on top and bottom and a red frame on left and right. The inner frame is decorated with a white meander pattern.

Background:

Solid gold leaf, with a hint of green grass at the bottom

Placement of miniature:

Directly before Genius gives his definitive sentence.

Place of Production of the Miniature:

Paris, France

Date of Production of the Miniature:

1325-1350

Similarities to other images from the corpus:

Gestures and composition:

BNCFCLAD, 153, 232v

BSG, Ms. 1126, fol 140r

BG, FR178, fol. 143v

PML, MS. 324, fol. 129r

BFMUM, H245, fol. 119r

LBL, MS YT21, fol. 127r

PML, MS. 132, fol. 138v

BNF, MS fr. 12595, fol. 140r

Secondary sources:

Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the Walters Art Gallery, 1 (1989): 173-76.

Detailed description

Allegories:

Genius is on the left.

Eight members of the court of the God of Love are on the right.

Clothing:

1. Genius

Long red chasuble
White alb
White and red hood

2. Barons

All are wearing the same type of hooded robe, with buttoned sleeves of different colours (blue, red, pink).

Gestures:

Genius is standing, his left hand in front of him and his right hand extended out and pointing up, indicating a gesture of speech.

All the barons are seated. Four of them have their right hands in front of them in a gesture of listening and/or acceptance.

Objects:

Genius is standing on a pulpit, from which he gives his speech.

Ex-libris

Modern entries concerning author and contents on front pastedown and fol. A. Perhaps owned by Léon Gruel, Paris bookbinder and bookseller, s. XIX/XX (3-page written description with no identifying marks, WAG file, p. 1 formerly affixed to front pastedown, a practice generally observed in manuscripts acquired from Gruel). Purchased between 1895 and 1931.
Fol. 24: Et sachiez que.