Bibliothèque nationale de France Ms fr. 380, fol. 57r, ca. 1400 | MARGOT

Detailed manuscript information (based on Ernest Langlois, Les manuscrits du Roman de la rose. Description et classement, Geneva: Slatkine Reprints, 1974, p. 5-6).

Parchment, measure: 374x280mm, 160 fols at two columns, 41 lines. Beginning of the second folio: Ens en le mileu vi Haïne. Bound in the coat of arms of Colbert. This manuscript contains the Roman de la rose (fols 1-139r), the Testament (fols 140r-153r) by Jean de Meun, the Sept articles de la foi (fols 154r-159v) by Jean Chapuis and the Codicille (159v-160r).

Scene depicted

Jealous husband scolds his wife.

Miniature description

Size:

Column picture

Height: 13 lines

Material and colors:

Parchment

Blue, red, pink, green, black, gold leaf

Initial:

Pen-flourished initial “P” (2 lines). Located below the miniature and rubric. Initial in blue with red ink background detail.

Rubric:

Placed below the miniature. Reads: “Le jaloux parle a sa fe[m]me”

Frame:

Gilded outer border with blue/white and red/white bar inner frame. Gilded foliate extends from both the right and left sides of the frame.

Background:

Diaper pattern background. Square grid is composed of 3 thin gilded lines painted over red background with red and blue detail.

Place of production of miniature:

Paris (?), France

Date of production of miniature:

ca. 1400.

Detailed description

Allegories:

Jealous husband on left

Wife on right

Clothing:

1.Jealous husband:

Red knee length surcote
Blue chaperon
White hose
Black Pouleines

2.Wife:

Blue floor length gown
Red capuchon

Gestures:

The husband leans in towards his wife, while the wife moves slightly back. This shows his imposing nature.

“the husband stands facing his wife and holds his hands in a set of speaking gestures that visualize the aggressive thrust of his words” (Desmond, Marilynn.Ovid’s Art and the Wife of Bath. The Ethics of Erotic Violence. Ithaca: Cornell UP, 2006: pp. 87-9)

“Her posture signals her status as recipient of this barrage: she stands balanced on both feet and holds her [right] hand up, either in concession or agreement” (Desmond, Marilynn.Ovid’s Art and the Wife of Bath. The Ethics of Erotic Violence. Ithaca: Cornell UP: p. 89) Desmond is speaking of the image in BUV (????), MS 387, fol. 60v: however, the same holds true for BNF, Ms. Fr. 380, fol. 57r

Landscape:

Illusionistic grass ground

Ex-libris

On a flyleaf: Le Romant de la Rose. Est a Jehan, filz de roy de France, duc de Berry et d'Auvergne, conte de Poitou, d'Estampes, de Bouloingne et d'Auvergne. Flamel.
Fol. 160r: Ce livre est au duc de Berry. Jehan. The Duke of Berry had received it on July 7 (or June) 1403 from Martin Gouge, bishop of Chartres and the duke's treasurer. It was given to Guillaume Lurin on March 3, 1414. (Langlois, 5 n.1)