Pierpont Morgan Library Ms. 132, fol. 102v, ca. 1380

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Folio 102v

Detailed manuscript information (based on Pierpont Morgan Library Catalogue MSS. 1906, no. 112):

Vellum, measure 8x5.5", 1 + 189 fols, two columns 34 lines. This manuscript contains the Roman de la rose (fols 1-156r), the Testament (fols 158r-189v) by Jean de Meun.

Scene depicted

The Duenna is speaking about nature and about the bird from the green wood, which is in the cage.

Miniature description

Size:

  • 203x140mm
  • Column miniature
  • Height: 11 lines

Material and colors:

  • Vellum
  • Gold leaf, blue, red, white, brown, black, grey

Frame:

Simple gold leaf exterior frame with red, white, and blue inner frame. There are gold leaf foliate extenders and gold leaf "sperm" on the right and left sides of the frame.

Background:

Background is bare (grisaille) with the ruling still visible.

Rubric:

Four lines above the miniature read: "Ci raconte la vieille du bel / Example que dit de loisel / Q[ui] toudiz ne fait q[ue] querir / Lieu par ou il puisse courir"

Initial:

Gold leaf initial "O" with red decorative details in the interior of the letter, and a blue and white border surrounding it. There are gold leaf foliate extenders springing upwards and downwards from the initial.

Place of production of miniature:

France

Date of production of miniature:

Ca. 1380

Similarities with other images of the corpus:

There are no similar images in the other manuscripts of the Roman de la Rose.

Secondary Sources:

Detailed manucript information based on the Pierpont Morgan Library Catalogue Mss. 1906, no. 112.

Detailed description
Allegories:
Duenna
Clothing:
*Grisaille
1. Duenna
  • Long robe over a chemise
  • Wimple under a pointed hood in the shape of a Phrygian cap
Gestures:
The Duenna has her right finger raised in speech and left hand raised with palm facing upward. The bird from the green wood is in the cage.

Ex-libris

  1. Inscription on fol. 158: Johannes Marous (ca. 1525)
  2. Inscription on first folio: Pierre Vischer de Bâle (1773)
  3. Ex-libris: Bought 20 June 1995 by William Morris
  4. Inscription on fly-leaf, and ex-libris: Richard Bennett collection, 1897.
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