Book of Hours of Jeanne d'Évreux

This tiny prayer book was copied by a gifted anonymous scribe, who fixed the text on extremely thin, transparent vellum in magnificently regular letters. The miniatures from the workshop of Jean Pucelle are all done in grisaille using a rich scale of grey shades. Three cycles of illustrations were provided for Jeanne’s personal devotions. The first two encompass eight scenes from the childhood of Christ and another eight from the Passion. The third depicts nine episodes from the life of King Louis, who was canonised in 1297 and passionately honoured at the French court.

The cycle of prayers dedicated to the French King Louis IX, who was canonised in 1297, begins with this pair of miniatures on folios 102v and 103r. On the left Pucelle has created one of his most exciting perspective compositions: Jeanne can be seen inside a church kneeling at her prie-dieu, saying her prayers before a statue of St Louis. The scene on the right shows St Louis being scourged by his father confessor.