Pierpont Morgan Library Ms. 132, fol. 102vb, ca. 1380 | MARGOT

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

Depiction of the Duenna's lesson of a "man who goes into a religious order and comes to repent of it afterwards. He needs only a little more grief to hang himself. He complains and laments [...]." From the excerpt of the Duenna's Lessons in "Reading the Roman de la Rose", lines 1426-28.

Miniature description

Size:

203x140mm
Column miniature
Height: 11 lines

Material and colors:

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

Frame:

Miniature: Simple gold leaf exterior frame with red, white, and blue simple inner frame. There are foliate extenders in gold leaf on the right and left sides of the frame. Five "sperm" details are evident on the right and left sides of the frame.

Rubric:

Four lines above the miniature read: "Ci dit co[m]ment li jeunes ho[m] Q[ui] se met en religion Trop jeune dont puis se repe[n]t Si qua poi de deul ne se pent"

Initial:

Gold leaf initial "A" with blue and white decorative interior, and gold leaf extenders.

Background:

Background shows rudimentary perspective, with white cathedral with brown doors and crosses and blue windows and roof. There is also a turret with a bell, and green bench on which the monk is seated.

Place of production of miniature:

France

Date of production of miniature:

Ca. 1380

Similarities with other images of the corpus:

Similar buildings appear in the following manuscripts: BNCF. Codice Laurenziano Acquisti e Doni 153, fol. 150v ; PML. Ms. 132, fol. 95r.

Secondary Sources:

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

Detailed description

Allegories:

Depiction of one of the Duenna's lessons: a "man who goes into a religious order and comes to repent of it afterwards. He needs only a little more grief to hang himself. He complains and laments [...]"

Clothing and other features:

*Semi-grisaille

Grey monk's habit with cowl
Blonde tonsure shaved head

Architecture:

The monk is represented inside a church or cathedral. The interior of the church is visible through the removal of the side wall. On the right there is an exterior view of the wall, and on the left there is an interior view of the arched doorway. The exterior wall is decorated with a double lancet window surmounted by a small trefoil tracery, and over this window there is a representation of a larger rose window. Over the roof there are two crosses with trefoil terminations and a bell tower at the centre. The interior shows clerestory windows and a cornice underneath them. The monk is seated on a greenish bench.

Gestures:

The monk is sitting, leaning his head on his right hand, with his left hand resting on his lap. His face depicts sadness.

Ex-libris

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