“Joan of Arc”
This medieval miniature, titled “Joan of Arc”, or “Jeanne d’Arc”, is a gouache and watercolor on paper painting done in the International Gothic style by an unknown, anonymous artist that dates to circa 1450-1500. It was painted just several decades after Joan’s death. This is the earliest surviving painting but is still only an artist’s interpretation. The only known painting of Joan that she actually sat for has unfortunately not survived.
Joan of Arc is a French national heroine who lived from 1412 to 1431. She is remembered for her leadership in several important French victories of the Hundred Years’ War.
Joan was born in Domrémy, a small village in the French countryside, to a family of modest means. She was born into a country that was devastated from decades of war. France and England were fighting over succession to the French throne, and as most of the fighting took place in France, the French economy was in shambles.
From the age of 12, Joan was said to have had visions telling her to help Charles of Valois, who was the son of Charles VI and seen as the rightful heir. She was often visited by what she described as angels, specifically Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret, who told her to drive the English out of France.
At age 16, Joan attempted to visit Charles at his makeshift court in Chinon but was turned away. She tried again the following year and was finally granted an audience with him. Joan said that she had seen a vision and that with her help, Charles would be crowned as the rightful King of France in Reims. He sent her to Orléans and helped drive the English from the city and was seen as a great inspiration to the French people. Her incredible foresight allowed her access to the French court, which she notoriously attended in male clothing.
Joan’s intervention in the Hundred Years’ War turned the English-French conflict into a religious war with much higher stakes. After a short truce with England turned sour, Joan went to Compiègne to help defend the city from the English. She was unhorsed by an archer and captured by the English near Paris on May 23, 1430. Joan was put on trial for heresy. She was found guilty and was burned at the stake on May 30, 1431, at just 19 years old.
Many people believe that because of Joan’s intervention, Charles VII was able to keep his legitimacy to the French throne. Joan was beatified in 1909 and canonized in 1920. Many chronicles of her trial survived as well as some original letters signed by her hand. All these records have provided an abundance of material for such an incredible event in history and have allowed her story to be elaborated upon.
“Joan of Arc” is currently in the collection of the Archives Nationales in Paris, France.
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