Vergilius Romanus: the story on HearLore

Two Anonymous Artists

A single miniature on folio 1 recto depicts Tityrus playing a flute under a tree. Three cows look out from behind that same tree while Meliboeus leads a goat nearby. This first artist shows remnants of classical style with garments draped naturally. Heads appear in three quarter view despite an unsuccessful attempt at creating space. The second artist demonstrates a radical break from these traditions in all remaining miniatures. These later works are framed in red and gold borders.

Flattened Human Forms

Folio 100 verso displays a reclining figure portrayed in an utterly unconvincing manner. The second artist seems to have no real understanding of the human body or contorted poses. Faces shift away from three quarter positions to become either frontal or full profile. Clothing reduces to rhythmic curving lines rather than draping naturally. Pages divide into separate compartments where items spread evenly over the field without overlapping. No ground line exists when landscapes appear, eliminating any sense of three-dimensional space.

Vergil In A Frame

Three author portraits survive within Folios 3v, 9r, and 14 r. Vergil sits on a chair between a lectern and a locked chest inside each image. The portrait on folio 3v places the lectern on Vergil's right side with the chest on his left. The other two portraits reverse this arrangement completely. These images rely heavily on early papyrus scroll tradition conventions for manuscript portraits. They insert directly into the text column within a defined frame structure.

British Or Continental Origins

Martin Henig suggests production occurred in Britain based on illumination styles found within the codex. If true, this would make it the oldest surviving British codex. The manuscript remained at the Abbey of St Denis until the fifteenth century. It remains unknown how the object arrived at St Denis or eventually reached the Vatican. Scholars distinguish this work from the Vergilius Vaticanus and the Vergilius Augusteus held elsewhere in the Biblioteca Apostolica.

What are the physical dimensions and page structure of the Vergilius Romanus?

The Vergilius Romanus measures 332 by 323 millimeters and contains 309 vellum folios written in rustic capitals. Each page holds exactly 18 lines of text.

When was the Vergilius Romanus created and what texts does it preserve from that period?

This codex preserves the Aeneid, the Georgics, and some Eclogues from the fifth century. It stands as one of the oldest surviving illustrated classical manuscripts.

How do the artistic styles differ between the first and second artists who worked on the Vergilius Romanus?

The first artist shows remnants of classical style with garments draped naturally while heads appear in three quarter view. The second artist demonstrates a radical break from these traditions where faces shift to frontal or full profile positions without any ground line.

Where were the author portraits located within the Vergilius Romanus and how did they arrange Vergil's furniture?

Three author portraits survive within Folios 3v, 9r, and 14 r where Vergil sits on a chair between a lectern and a locked chest. The portrait on folio 3v places the lectern on Vergil's right side with the chest on his left while the other two portraits reverse this arrangement completely.

Why might scholars believe the Vergilius Romanus originated in Britain during the fifth century?

Martin Henig suggests production occurred in Britain based on illumination styles found within the codex. If true, this would make it the oldest surviving British codex.

Vergilius Romanus