Bibliothèque nationale de France Ms fr. 24392, fol. 76r, XVth century | MARGOT

Detailed manuscript information (based on Ernest Langlois, Les manuscrits du Roman de la rose. Description et classement, Geneva: Slatkine Reprints, 1974, p. 61-62):

Parchment, measure: 330x236mm, 216fols, two columns at 38 lines. Beginning of second folio: Que j'oy près d'ilecques bruire (or the following verse added at the top margin: Car je ne sceuz ailleurs deduire). The Roman appears on fols 2-175r, followed by the Testament on fols 177r-206r written in one rubric in 530 quatrains, followed by the Codicille on fols 207r-v and the Sept articles de la foi on fols 208r-214r. Fols 1 and 176 are blank, fols 214-216 contain numerous reflexions in verse and prose, in Latin and French on the Roman and the Testament.

*By far the most richly decorated and realistic of this group of miniatures.

Scene depicted

Jealous husband beats his wife, while neighbours attempt to pull him away. Only one other miniature includes the neighbours in the visual program: WAM, Ms. W. 143, fol. 62v.

Miniature description

Size:

Column picture.

Height: 10 lines.

Material and colors:

Parchment

Green, white, blue, red, brown, black, gold leaf

Initial:

Pen-flourished initial “L” (4 lines). Located below the miniature. Initial is blue and red with black and red ink background detail.

Rubric:

Placed above miniature, 3 lines. Reads: “Comme le jaloux bat sa femme et la tient par les cheveux et comme les voisis viennent oster”

Frame:

Brown and Gilded segmented arched outer frame.

Background:

Indoors. Bedroom setting. Attempt to rudimentary perspective.

Place of production of miniature:

France

Date of production of miniature:

15th century

Detailed description

Allegories:

Wife on left

Jealous husband left-center

Neighbour right-center

Neighbour's wife right

Clothing:

1. Wife

White kirtle
Lower cut, V-neck shaped sleeveless green dress, tied at the front with stomacher
Fine gold and jewelled girdle

2. Jealous husband

Grey pourpoint
White kirtle
Brown hose
Brown, knee-high brodequins
White linen turban

3. Neighbour

Grey linen turban
Brown pourpoint
Stomacher
Grey hose

4. Neighbour's wife

Blue gown
Chemise
Red underdress
Black capuchon

Gestures:

Wife is bleeding from head indicating that the husband has already struck her. She is on all fours. Husband's right hand, holding a club, is raised over his head and ready to strike his wife. His left hand is grasping her hair. The neighbour grabs at Jealous husband's waist and arm holding the club, while his wife grabs at the arm that is pulling the wife’s hair.

Objects:

Bed with a canopy in red and gold on left

Arched doorway on right

Blue tiled floor

Club

“This weapon […] semiotically connects the husband with the allegorical figure of Dangier, who is usually depicted wielding a club at Amant” (Desmond, Marilynn.Ovid’s Art and the Wife of Bath. The Ethics of Erotic Violence. Ithaca: Cornell UP, 2006: p. 95) (See fol. 23v)