The Tree and the Rose: On Two Bas-de-pages of Manuscript Paris, BnF, fr. 25526

26th of June 2025, at 6:00 PM The Institute of Classical, Mediterranean and Oriental Studies of the University of Wrocław, in collaboration with our Dante committee invite at the Spanish Library of Wrocław, ul. Uniwersytecka 19-20 for an open lecture in Italian with Polish translation.

Prof. Sonia Maura Barillari (University of Genoa) presents a lecture on the medieval manuscript Paris, BnF, fr. 25526 (mid-14th c.), a copy of the Roman de la Rose illuminated by Richard and Jeanne de Montbaston. The talk focuses on two enigmatic bas-de-pages (ff. 106v and 160r) depicting trees with phallic fruits harvested by religious women. The analysis explores arboreal symbolism, links to Jean de Meun’s anti-clerical satire, literary antecedents (e.g., Jean Bodel’s fabliau), and their parodic function relative to the text. A journey into medieval marginal iconography—between transgression and popular culture.