Finally, for our last three items we’d like to show you some depictions of the more carnal side of love. The first of these items, from the copy of the Roman de la Rose in BNF Francais 25526 (f.l06v), depicts a nun harvesting phalli from a tree. On the right side of the image she is shown embracing a monk, indicating her reason for such hard work in harvesting! Likewise, the second image, from Walters 628, shows altogether more chaste couples engaging in various acts of courtship by a river. This manuscript is particularly interesting because it shows that ideas of courtship and love depicted in western European manuscripts often had analogues from the Islamic world. There is even an analogue of the bawdy embrace from BNF Francais 25526 in Walters 593 in the final image, although it goes much further and is not coy about depicting the lovers mid-coitus!

And with that, we at MESA wish you and yours a happy Valentine’s day in whatever mode you may choose to celebrate.