Pierpont Morgan Library Ms. 132, fol. 103v, 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 addresses Fair Welcoming.

Miniature description

Size:

203x140mm
Column miniature
Height: 11 lines

Material and colors:

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

Frame:

Simple gold leaf exterior frame with red, white, and blue simple inner frame. There are gold leaf foliate extenders on the right and left sides of the frame. "Sperm" details are evident on the right side of the frame.

Background:

Background is bare with green grass below the allegories' feet.

Rubric:

Four lines above miniature: "La vieille q[ui] de tout mal se[m]ple / Dit a belacueil [un] example / Du chat [et] du polain devise / Co[m]ment nature les maistrise"

Initial:

Gold leaf "B" initial with decorative interior details in red and white, and exterior decorations in blue and white. One gold leaf extender springs downwards from the letter.

Place of production of miniature:

France.

Date of production of miniature:

Ca. 1380

Similarities with other images of the corpus:

The position of the allegory is similar in the following manuscripts: BNCF, Codice Laurenziano Acquisti e Doni 153, fol. 150 ; BSG, Ms. 1126, fol. 90R; BGE, Ms. FR178, fol. 94v; BimUM, Ms. H245, fol. 80r.

Secondary Sources:

Detailed manuscript information based on the 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

White robe over a chemise
Wimple falling to the shoulders

2.Fair Welcoming

Blonde hair
Courtepy
Capuchon with ruffle-like details also found in the hem of the cotehardie.
Chausses

Gestures:

The Duenna has her right finger raised in a gesture of speech and left hand raised with palm facing upward. Fair Welcoming has his arms crossed across his chest, listening but possibly indicating that he is not open to communication.

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.