Pierpont Morgan Library Ms. 132, fol. 138r, ca. 1380

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Folio 138r

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

Genius's Sermon and Definitive Sentence

Miniature description

Size:

  • 203x140mm
  • Column picture
  • Height: 11 lines

Materials:

  • Vellum
  • Gold leaf, black, green, brown

Initials:

Gold leaf initial "T", penned in with white decorative motifs over blue and red background.

Frame:

Simple gold leaf frame around miniature with a simple inner frame in red (top and bottom) and blue (left and right). Gold leaf foliates and "sperms" spring from the frame on the top, right, and left sides.

Landscape:

A small amount of green grass covers the bottom of the miniature.

Placement of miniature:

Directly before the God of Love puts a chasuble on Genius.

Place of Production of the Miniature:

France

Date of Production of the Miniature:

1380

Similarities to other images from the corpus:

Gestures:

  • BNF, Ms. fr. 12595, fol. 140r
  • BSG, Ms. 1126, 139v

Composition:

  • PML, MS. 132, fol. 138v
  • LBL, MS YT21, fol. 127r

Secondary sources:

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

Detailed description
Allegories:
Genius is on the left.
God of Love is on the right.
Clothing and other features:
*Semi-grisaille
1. Genius (dressed as a bishop)
  • Chasuble
  • Long grey habit
  • White alb
  • Mitre
  • Blonde hair
  • Crosier
2. God of Love
  • Cotehardie
  • Belt
  • Crown over blonde hair
  • Grey chausses
  • Grey wings
Gestures:
Genius has his right hand raised in a gesture of acceptance, while his left hand is holding a crosier. The God of Love is giving the crosier to Genius with his right hand, while his left hand is pointed in a gesture of speech.
Objects:
Both Genius and the God of Love are holding a crosier.

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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