Pierpont Morgan Library Ms. 132, fol. 91v, 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

The Duenna presents a chaplet to Fair Welcoming, who is in the castle/prison.

Manuscript description

Size:

302x140mm

Column miniature

Height: 11 lines

Material and colors:

Vellum

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

Initial:

Decorated initial "L" below the miniature in gold leaf with red, blue and white decorative details inside and surrounding the letter. It also has two extenders springing upwards and downwards.

Rubric:

Four lines above the miniature that read: "Comment la vieille maquerele / Pourchace a l'amant sa querele / Et presente .i. jolis chapel / A belacueil le doulz et bel"

Frame:

Simple gold leaf exterior frame with interior frame in blue and white. Foliate extenders appear at the right and left sides of the frame, with two "sperm" on the sides.

Background:

Background is bare, although the castle demonstrates rudimentary perspective.

Place of production of miniature:

France

Date of production of miniature:

1380

Similarities with other images of the corpus:

The tower also appears in the following manuscripts: BMC. Ms.0270, fol. 90v; BNCF. Codice Laurenziano Acquisti e Doni 153, fol. 150v; ÖNB. Codex 2592, fol. 87v; PML. Ms. 132, fol. 95r.

Secondary Sources:

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

Detailed description

Allegories:

Duenna is on the left.

Fair Welcoming is on the right.

Clothing and other features:

*Semi-grisaille

1. Duenna

Long robe with tight-fitting sleeves
Wimple falling over the shoulders

2. Fair Welcoming

High-neck robe
Blond hair

Architecture:

The castle entrance has an arched brown doorway. To the left there is a white buttress. Over the door there is a window with metal bars, and above this window there is another open square window with a brownish roof above it. There are two bartizans, one on either side of the window.

Gestures:

The Duenna presents a chaplet (held in her right hand) to Fair Welcoming. Her left hand is raised, palm facing upwards. Fair Welcoming looks down from the castle.

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.