Douce Roman de la Rose

A controversial love story was begun by Guillaume de Lorris ca. 1235 and was finished by Jean de Meung ca. 1280
Completely new narrative techniques were used in the first French story written in the first person
Robinet Testard illuminated the manuscript with 127 miniatures and countless decorated initials for Louise of Savoy (1476–1531)

Douce Roman de la Rose

MS Douce 195 Bodleian Library (Oxford, United Kingdom)

Description

Douce Roman de la Rose

The Douce Roman de la Rose in the Bodlein Library is one of the richest illuminated manuscripts of the medieval bestseller. It was commissioned by Louise of Savoy (1476–1531), who at the time of its creation was still Countess of Angoulême, and was decorated by Robinet Testard (fl. 1475–1531) with a total of 127 expressive, narrative miniatures and dozens of golden decorated initials. The Romance of the Rose, begun by Guillaume de Lorris around 1235 and completed by Jean de Meung in Paris around 1280, was one of the most widely read works in France until the Renaissance. It was not only the use of the first-person perspective that was groundbreaking, but also the allegorical figures and the presentation of the entire narration in the form of a dream. At the same time, however, the Old French work was already highly controversial in the 13th century: while some were disturbed by the uncommonly sensual language and erotic motifs, others criticized the misogyny it manifested – among them for example Christine de Pizan (1364–1429).

Codicology

Alternative Titles: Il manoscritto Douce 195
Roman de la Rose - Ms. Douce 195
Romance of the Rose
Rosenroman
Type: Manuscript on parchment
Size / Format: 312 pages / 34.2 × 23.5 cm
Origin: France
Date: Between 1487 and 1496
Epochs: Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style: Gothic
Genre: Literature / Poetry
Language: French
Script: French littera bastarda
Illustrations: 7 large and 120 column-wide miniatures, numerous decorated initials
Content: Romance of the Rose by Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun
Patron: Louise of Savoy (1476–1531)
Artist / School: Robinet Testard (illuminator)
Previous Owners: Justin MacCarthy-Reagh
George Hibbert
Francis Douce

Available facsimile editions:

Facsimile Editions

#1 Il manoscritto Douce 195

Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani – Rome, 2017

Publisher: Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani – Rome, 2017

Limited Edition: 409 copies (399 hand-numbered, 10 unnumbered)

Binding: Gold-stamped leather. The facsimile comes in a slipcase.

Commentary: 1 volume by Roberta Manetti, Nathalie Coilly and Martin Kauffmann
Language: Italian

Facsimile Copy Available!

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Douce Roman de la Rose