Chivalrous, platonic and bound by rules to be followed at all costs – such was the courtly ideal of love, which from the 12th century onwards was known as Minne. And the rules were necessary, because love could be dangerous, clouding the mind, robbing one of reason and clouding one’s judgement! Caution was therefore required when dealing with Lady Minne, the personification of courtly love. The miniature in the Welschen Gast also seems to speak to this necessary caution.
An arrow shot into the lover’s eye, a bridle keeping the lovely lady in check – that’s meant to be love?
The depiction tells the story of the encounter between Lady Minne and a young nobleman in two scenes. The left-hand scene shows a seemingly criminal act: a young, naked woman with long, blonde hair aims a bow and arrow at a male figure who already has an arrow in his eye. There is no doubt about the identity of the perpetrator – not only does she carry a bow, arrows and quiver, which identifies her unmistakably as the personification of courtly love, but she is also named by an inscription next to her head. The design corresponds to the medieval tradition of depicting Lady Minne. Her attributes reveal that the figure’s origins lie in the Roman-Greek god of love, Cupid, who hunted his victims naked and armed with a bow and arrow. The shot in the eye of the man in love visualises the medieval idea that love penetrates the heart through the eye – the picture therefore shows the moment of falling in love. In the second scene on the right, Lady Minne has lowered her weapons and the man is holding out a blue bridle to her, with the reins tied to his belt – Lady Minne is tamed, the danger is averted, the desired maiden and her heart are won.
The miniature in the Welsche Gast has an unusual position at first glance: it appears on the right side of folio 19 recto – i.e. on the front of the 19th sheet – next to the text. However, it is not parallel to the foot of the page, but rotated 90 degrees to the right, so readers had to tilt their heads to the side or turn the manuscript to look at the image.
Heidelberg, University Library
