Pierpont Morgan Library Ms. 132, fol. 78r, ca. 1380

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Folio 78r

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

False Seeming speaks with God of Love.

Miniature description
Size:
203x140mm
Column miniature
Height: Approx. 9 lines
 
Material and colors:
Vellum
Gold leaf, blue, red, white, brown, black, grey
 
Initial:
Pen-flourished initial “M” above miniature, in black inck with red decorative details. 
 
Frame:
Simple gold leaf exterior frame with inner blue, red, and white inner frame. On the left, right, and botton of the frame there are gold leaf  foliate extenders. A gold leaf “sperm” is found beside the right side of the frame.
 
Background:
Background is white with visible ruling marks.
 
Place of production of miniature:
France
 
Date of production of miniature:
ca. 1380
 
Similarities with other images of the corpus:
The position of the allegories is similar in the following manuscripts: BNF, Ms. Fr. 380, fol. 73r; JPG, Ms. Lud. XV 7, fol. 70r; Fitzwilliam Museum, Ms. 169, fol. 48v.
 
Secondary Sources:
Detailed manuscript information based on Pierpont Morgan Library Catalogue, Ms. 1906, no. 112. 

Detailed description

Allegories:

God of Love is on the right.

False Seeming is on the left.

Clothing and other features:

*Semi-grisaille

1. False Seeming

  • Black monk’s habit with cowl

  • White alb

  • Brown satchel over his shoulder

  • Walking staff

  • Tonsured shaved head (with blonde tonsure)

*Both the satchel and the staff indicate that the monk was itinerant and probably from a mendicant order.

2. God of Love

  • Cotehardie with buttons

  • Gold leaf crown

  • Short blonde hair

  • Spear

  • White and blue wings, with interior rendered in green

Gestures:

False Seeming approaches the God of Love, his right hand raised. The God of Love faces False Seeming, with his right hand also raised. Both are making gestures of speech, indicating that they are involved in a conversation. Both hold a walking stick or sceptre in their left hands.

Landscape:

Green grass, but no other landscape details

Ex-libris

  1. Inscription on fol. 158: Johannes Marous (ca. 1525)
  2. Inscription on first folio: Pierre Vischer de Blâe (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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