Du Roman de la Violette à l’Histoire de Gérard de Nevers : de la pudeur courtoise à l’impudique manuscrit KBR, ms. 9631

What is it about?

This article focuses on the transformation of 13th century Roman de la violette into the Histoire de Gerard de Nevers, an illuminated romance of 15th century manuscript produced for Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. Indeed, the text and the watercolored drawings of the enigmatic Wavrin Master revive courtly love in a rather indecent manner… Male protagonists impose indecency upon all, including the readers. Paradoxically, shamelessness triggers the disruptive element of the story and shapes the resolution of the plot.

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Why is it important?

Our findings show that manuscripts by the Wavrin Master should not just be considered as comical or caricatural. They reflect a state of mind and unveil reading practices that imply speech as well as an oblique interpretation of both the text and the images.