c. 1470
Ink, tempera, and gold on vellum
Sheet: 36.3 x 27.2 cm (14 5/16 x 10 11/16 in.)
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund 1945.16
This miniature depicts the event that started the Trojan War. Helen, a Greek princess famous for her beauty, was loved by the Trojan prince Paris, who carried her off to Troy. Here she is presented to Priam, the King of Troy and father of Paris, outside the city gates. The leaf comes from Jehan de Courcy’s History of Greece and Rome, which relates the events of human history from the Creation to the birth of Christ. This work is also known as the Chronique Universelle (History of the World) de la Bouquechardière, a name that derives from the lands owned by Jehan de Courcy. Secular histories in the late Middle Ages were in great demand among aristocratic patrons.
The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.
To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.
All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.