Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Roman de la Rose
Belgium, possibly Tournai, ca. 1390
MS G.32 fol. 4r

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Miniature in left column: 1) Personification of Hypocrisy, wearing nun’s wimpled veil and habit, sits on bench, holding open book with pseudo-inscriptions on lap. Figure against diapered background within frame decorated with two tendrils of trefoil leaves. Below miniature, blue initial U with red pen flourishes at beginning of text, UNE YMAGE OT APRES ESCRIPTE / QUI BIEN SAMBLOIT ESTRE YPOCRITE / ... Miniature in right column: 2) Personification of Poverty, wearing long veil over nude body, with left hand raised toward mouth, squats on ground, facing tree at left. Figure against gold background within frame decorated with two tendrils of trefoil leaves. Below miniature, red initial P with blue pen flourishes at beginning of text, POURETES QUI UN SEUL DENIER / TANT SEUST BIEN SA ROBE UENDRE / ... [a verse that was skipped between these two follows the second].