Coronation of Louis the Pious 1460

Jean Fouquet painted "The Coronation of Louis the Pious," an illustration, sometime in the mid-15th century. It's now kept at the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris. Painted during a period of significant social and political change in France, this miniature depicts the solemn coronation of a king. Notice how Fouquet uses the visual codes of royalty - the fleur-de-lis, the crowns, the opulent robes, and the religious vestments - to convey the divine authority of the monarchy. Yet, the very act of depicting this event raises questions about the power dynamics of the time. Is it a celebration of royal authority, or a reminder of the social contract between the ruler and the ruled? Historical context is crucial for understanding art like this. Examining chronicles, religious texts, and records of courtly life can shed light on the meaning this image would have held for its original audience. It can tell us about the public role of art, and how it reflected, reinforced, or even challenged the social structures of its time.