Life and Miracles of St. Louis

One of the most significant medieval monarchs, who redefined the ideal of the Christian ruler in the 13th century, was King Louis IX of France, called St. Louis. His character and his works offered material for countless chroniclers, biographers, and tales of miracles that were sometimes recorded in marvelous manuscripts. A particularly beautiful specimen was completed ca. 1480 by a gifted artist at the behest of Cardinal Charles de Bourbon. This Flemish miniaturist known under the name Master of the Cardinal Charles de Bourbon represented his exceptional ability with the artistic adornment of the des Livre des faits de monseigneur saint Louis. The splendid, gold-adorned miniatures of the biography of St. Louis and the wonder stories, which are supposed to have occurred at his tomb after his death, distinguish themselves through the finest details and a surprising image composition. The French manuscript can be counted among the greatest works of late 15th century illumination.

King and Saint, Crusader and Justice of the Peace

Louis IX (1214–1270), called St. Louis, was one of the most famous kings of France. His rule marked a Golden Age. He has gone down in history as the leader of two crusades and as the upholder of peace and just judges. Today, St. Louis is considered to be one of the most important medieval monarchs and an “ideal type of ruler.” He was already known in his lifetime for his especial piety and his close association with Christian beliefs. This is what caused Pope Boniface VIII to declare him a saint in the year 1297. The impressive and anecdote-filled Life and Miracles of St. Louis was recorded in numerous biographies, contemporary chronicles, and filigreed tales of miracles.

The Splendid Livre des faits de monseigneur saint Louis

Cardinal Charles de Bourbon (1433–1488), cardinal and archbishop of Lyon, was the one who commissioned one of the most beautiful manuscripts concerning the Life and Miracles of St. Louis. The cardinal was a great devotee of St. Louis. Made ca. 1480, des Livre des faits de monseigneur saint Louis contains a detailed biography and miracle stories, which played out at his grave after the death of Louis. The text originates from an anonymous author, who took Guillaume de Saint-Pathus (Vie de Saint Louis), Vincent de Bauvais (Miroir historial), and Guillaume de Nangis as his examples and formed an exciting and informative narrative therefrom. Cardinal Charles de Bourbon gifted the splendid manuscript to a “duchesse de Bourbonnois” who is also mentioned in the book, one of the three spouses of his brother Duc Jean II de Bourbon.

The Grandiose Illumination of the Late 15th Century

This scene is recorded in one of the wonderful miniatures of the manuscript. A depiction shows the scene of the presentation of the completed manuscript to the cardinal. He in turn gave it to this Duchess of Bourbon. There are a total of 122 miniatures on the 328 pages of the manuscript, 48 of them are even full-page. Impressive depictions with unbelievable spatiality characterize the style of the miniatures. Landscapes and interior spaces, which are skillfully interlinked, bespeak an exciting interplay between interior and exterior. The particularly fine brushstrokes make marvelously detailed scenes possible even in the background. The masterful shading in luminous yellow-gold allows the miniatures to shimmer and gleam as though they were illuminated by the Sun. The so-called Master of the Cardinal Charles of Bourbon was responsible for this splendor, who probably received his artistic training in Bruges. From 1480 on he as active in Paris and illuminated numerous marvelous books of hours, among others. With des Livre des faits de monseigneur saint Louis, he presented an impressive testimonial of his exceptional art.