Vie et Miracles de saint Louis (BNF Fr. 5716)

A king travels by ship, f. 39v.

Colloquial name(s): Vie et Miracles de saint Louis

Official name(s): Bibliothèque nationale de France, Français 5716

Date: 1330-50 (source)

Origin: Paris, France (source)

Online facsimile available via: Bibliothèque nationale de France Gallica digital library

This manuscript was made for Blanche de France, daughter of Saint Louis, who died in 1320 at the convent of the Cordeliers of Lourcine, a convent which she had founded (source). It is possible that the manuscript was commissioned by Jeanne de Navarre, daughter of Louis X le Hutin, at the same time as that of the Life of Saint Louis de Joinville (source). The manuscript is regularly described in the inventories of the Library of Charles V and Charles VI (source).

The 90 miniatures were made by Mahiet, a disciple of Pucelle (source). This artist is associated with other manuscripts including a copy of Les Grandes Chroniques de France (BL Royal MS 16 G VI) and a copy of the Vie de Saint Louis (BNF Fr. 13568).

Basic descriptions of the illustrations are provided by the Bibliothèque nationale de France with the facsimile - just click on the 'i' icon on the left-hand side.