Royal MS 20 A III, ff 1-120

Contents:

ff. 1-120: Gossuin, or Gautier, de Metz (c. 1245), L'Image du monde, a French version of De imagine mundi by Honorius of Autun, divided into two parts (the common division between Parts 2 and 3 of the text is not marked):

ff. 1r-50r: Part I, a study of Creation and science from a historical and moral perspective, beginning with the rubric, 'Ci com[m]e[n]se la p[r]imere p[ar]tie de lymage du mo[n]de ceste livre est devise en deus p[ar]ties. la p[ri]mere partie';

ff. 50r-97v: Part 2, the earth and its elements: earth, water, air, fire and ether; astronomy and the celestial motions ; 'Si fine la p[ri]mere partie du livre de lymage du monde. Si commense la seconde partie du livre de lymage du monde'.

ff. 97v-120v: [Part 3], Astronomy and the celestial motions; begins with the rubric, 'le 1x. Chapit[r]e de jour et de nuit.'

Decoration:

Circular ink diagrams in brown and red of: the elements (f. 52v); diagrams showing the properties of the earth, the first two with men and animals (ff. 54r, 54v, 55v, 57r, 58r, 58v, 59r); concentric circles (f. 93r); the planetary order (f. 95r); night and day (f. 98r, 100v); phases and eclipses of the moon (f. 101v, 102v, 104r); the source of heat (f. 109r); the planets and heavenly bodies (f. 118v). Numerous large initials in red; small initials with penwork decoration in red. Rubrics in red.