Boccaccio: La Théséide

This manuscript contains the French translation of the Italian narrative poem Il Teseida delle nozze d’Emilia by Boccaccio. Two related knights of noble birth fall in love with the beautiful Emilia. Although the champion of the tournament wins her as his bride, he dies as a result of his injuries, so the loser marries Emilia with the help of Venus.

There are a few surviving illuminated manuscripts of this work, among them that in Vienna stands out by the title pages that introduce each sonnet. The great patron of book illumination King Ren� of Anjou commissioned Barth�lemy d’Eyck to decorate the Th�s�ide. However, he executed only a small number of illustrations, and his place was soon taken by another artist, who is known by his illustrations for the manuscript of the Geneva Boccaccio.

The title miniature of the fourth book (folio 64r) depicts the release of Arcita from goal. Dressed entirely in black to signify the pain of parting, and with no hope of ever seeing his beloved Emilia again, Theseus releases Arcita from the dungeon thanks to his friend Palemone’s intervention, and is sent instead into permanent exile.