A design that was never taken to completion. Manuscript illustrations from fol. 074r Le roman de la rose Shelfmark: Bodleian Library MS. Douce 195 Holding Institution: Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford Date Statement: 15th century, end Place of Origin: France Language: French, Middle (ca. 1400-1600) Catalogue Description: Catalogue of Western Medieval Manuscripts in Oxford Libraries Author: Guillaume de Lorris Jean de Meun Burne-Jones and Morris visited the Bodleian library to look at manuscripts while they were students, so that from an early age they were aware of this script.
This drawing has been identified as deriving from Chaucer's 'Man of Law's Tale', which tells of a group of rich merchants from Syria who visit Rome, where they heard of the beauty of the daughter of the Emperor Constance. On their return they described her beauty with the help of a portrait.