Bruxelle, Bibliothèque royale de Belgique, MS 4782, fol. 30v

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Folio 30v Detailed manuscript information (based on Bernard Bousmanne, Frédérique Johan and Céline Van Hoorebeeck, La librarie des ducs de Bourgogne. Manuscrits conservés à la Bibliothèque royale de Belgique, vol. 2, Turnhout: Brepols, 2003, pp. 49-53 and Ernest Langlois, Les manuscrits de Roman de la rose. Description et classement, Geneva: Slatkine Reprints, 1974, p. 167):

Parchment. 250x187, 148 fols, two columns at 38 lines, 1300-1310, it probably originated in Paris.

Beginning of the second folio: Bien sembla estre tenceresse.

Scene depicted

Lady Reason attempts to define love.

Miniature description

Size:

Column picture.

Height: 11 lines.

Material and colors:

Parchment

Blue, pink, red, black, gold leaf

Initial:

Pen-flourished initial “A” (2 lines). Located four lines above the miniature. Initial is red with black ink background detail. Extenders from the top and bottom of the left side of the initial in black ink.

Rubric:

Six lines above miniature. Reads: “Ci est la diffinition damours”

Frame:

Gilded outer frame with red (left and right) and blue (top and bottom) inner borders. White ink detail on inner red and blue borders. Gilded foliate detail extends from the four corners of the frame.

Background:

Diaper pattern background. Alternating gilt lozenges with blue lozenges with red detail and red lozenges with white detail. There is a fleur-de-lys motif inscribed inside the lozenges with gold leaf.

Placement of Miniature:

Differs from other manuscripts in corpus, but is close to the placement in BSG, Ms. 1126. The image is placed approx. six lines into Lady Reasons attempt to define love.

Place of production of miniature:

Paris, France.

Date of production of miniature:

1300-1310.

Similarities with other images from the corpus:

Lady Reason matches gesture depicted in all three miniatures from BNF, Ms. Fr. 12595 as well as gestures in PML, Ms. M. 324, ÖNB, Codex 2592 BMC, Ms. 20