some illumination

Roman de la Rose, Princeton Garrett 126, miniature, column, fol. 146r, detail, mid 14th century, parchment, Île-de-France, Paris

Scene, Venus attacking Castle -- Venus, wearing garment, with bow shoots torch at castle with closed gate decorated with ironwork. Scene against diapered background within frame of miniature decorated with tendrils in right column.

In bottom of left column, rubric caption of scene, CI COMME VENUS TRAIT OU CHASTEL I BRANDON DE FEU POR EMBRASER CEULZ QUI SONT DEDENZ.
Below miniature in right column, initial L decorated with foliate ornament and tendrils, at beginning of text, LORS FU VENUS HAUT SECOURCIEE / BIEN SAMBLA ESTRE COUROUCIEE ...

Le Roman de la Rose attributed to Jean de Meun is one of the most important medieval texts. Unlike so many texts there are dozens of manuscripts extant of Roman de la Rose. Several scholars have tried to attribute the allegories in this tale to La Dame a la Licorne, but in my mind, they aren't convincing arguments.

In this illumination I love Venus' languid, elegant form, the representational architecture and especially the initial L. 

Psalter, initial D. fol.55v, whole page, c. 1300, parchment, English. Love the decorations filling in the blank spaces, classic medieval horror vacui.

Psalter, initial D, fol. 109v, whole page, c. 1300, parchment, English

Psalter of Poitiers, Sainte-Croix, initial E, fol. 69r, 1250 - 1260, Île-de-France, Paris

Language: Latin

Script: Gothic, textura semiquadrata
Psalm 081 (Vulg., 080).
David and Musicians -- David, crowned, sits on bench, with hammer in each hand playing four bells suspended above, beside musician, wearing fillet, with bow playing viol.
Scene against gold background, within initial E decorated with patterned spandrels.
Initial E, Incipit; OT, Psalm 081:01 (Vulg., 080:02); EXULTATE DEO ADIUTORI NOSTRO IUBILATE ...., Latin

So interesting to explore images of music and music makers in medieval manuscripts, and of course, here related to David. 

Missal, intial P, fol. 52v, whole page, Venetian, 1350-1374, parchment. As I understand it, velum is made of unborn calfskin, and parchment is from lambs, goats or calves. Similar creation processes, however. This detail smacks very Italian to me.

Missal, initial M, fol. 213v, whole page, c. 1300, French Dominican Convent

Script: Gothic, textura quadrataApostle, Andrew: Crucifixion -- Two executioners, one wearing cap, bind arms and legs of Andrew to horizontal cross.
Scene against gold background, within initial M decorated with foliate ornament, and with marginal foliate extensions.
Beginning of Introit for Mass of Apostle Andrew.
Initial M, Rubric; IN DIE OFFICIUM, Latin
Initial M, Incipit; MICHI AUTEM NIMIS HONORATI SUNT AMICI TUI DEUS ...., Latin
Written and illuminated in Paris in the early 14th century for a Dominican nunnery, as so indicated on f. 349v: Rubric at end of 2nd responsory of the burial service, Ibi debemus flectere genua sed tantum pro sorore nostra, followed by Domine miserere super peccatrice.

The information about these pieces and the images are from ArtStor.