DOI Heft:
Nr. 3
DOI Artikel:Ratkowska, Paulina: A wooden relief of the XIVth century with the Royal Feast and "Navarre-France" coat of arms
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18860#0084
1. The Royal Feast, Ile-de-France, ca 1350, Warsaw, Muzeum Narodowe
The surface of the panel- is divided with slender half-colonettes in three fields : the central
one crowned with a rounded arcade with the f ivelobed inner arch and the pair of symmetrical side
arcades with the trilobed inner arches. In the centre of the relief the Royal couple is banqueting
at the table covered with the folded tablecloth — the King in a crown and a Royal mantle holding
the scepter or "the hand of Justice" in his right hand is lost in melancholy. On the right the
young Queen also crowaed is seated. She crosses her hands on her breast in a gesture suggesting
a refusal (fig. 3). On the right of the table an elder is sitting in a long mantle and with bare
feet, rising his hand toward the Royal couple in a gesture of speech, while with his left hand
he is pointing to the row of six pitchers being filled with wine by the young servant kneeling on
the opposite side of the table. Behind the elder two ladies are shown going toward the banqueting
couple : the first of them with her head veiled is pointing to the coat of arms hanging above
the old man's head. The second lady in a simple linen hat and la guimpe5 is pointing toward
the elder while stepping in a refined pose. On the other side of the table two courtiers are standing,
the first of them wearing the rounded cap and holding a big chalice in his hand turns his head
toward the younger one wearing a bonnet.
The profusion and the high artistic quality of the carved decoration finds its justification
in the pointed blazon on the left of the Royal couple with the joined arms of Navarre and France6
5. See Xlllth century French portrait head from the tomb (Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore), M. Davenport, The hook of
Costume, New York, 1965, fig. 468 ; J. Quicherat, Histoire du Costume en France, Paris, 1875, p. 188—190, see also M. Hous-
ton, Mediaeval Costume in England and France, London, 1939 p. 15 sq. I thank cordially Miss Krystyna Turska, Institute
of History of Civilization for her friendly help and advices.
6. Dr S.K. Kuczyński was kind enough to help me in the heraldic problems. I am also grateful to Mr Winslow Ames for his
suggestions in this matter.
70
The surface of the panel- is divided with slender half-colonettes in three fields : the central
one crowned with a rounded arcade with the f ivelobed inner arch and the pair of symmetrical side
arcades with the trilobed inner arches. In the centre of the relief the Royal couple is banqueting
at the table covered with the folded tablecloth — the King in a crown and a Royal mantle holding
the scepter or "the hand of Justice" in his right hand is lost in melancholy. On the right the
young Queen also crowaed is seated. She crosses her hands on her breast in a gesture suggesting
a refusal (fig. 3). On the right of the table an elder is sitting in a long mantle and with bare
feet, rising his hand toward the Royal couple in a gesture of speech, while with his left hand
he is pointing to the row of six pitchers being filled with wine by the young servant kneeling on
the opposite side of the table. Behind the elder two ladies are shown going toward the banqueting
couple : the first of them with her head veiled is pointing to the coat of arms hanging above
the old man's head. The second lady in a simple linen hat and la guimpe5 is pointing toward
the elder while stepping in a refined pose. On the other side of the table two courtiers are standing,
the first of them wearing the rounded cap and holding a big chalice in his hand turns his head
toward the younger one wearing a bonnet.
The profusion and the high artistic quality of the carved decoration finds its justification
in the pointed blazon on the left of the Royal couple with the joined arms of Navarre and France6
5. See Xlllth century French portrait head from the tomb (Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore), M. Davenport, The hook of
Costume, New York, 1965, fig. 468 ; J. Quicherat, Histoire du Costume en France, Paris, 1875, p. 188—190, see also M. Hous-
ton, Mediaeval Costume in England and France, London, 1939 p. 15 sq. I thank cordially Miss Krystyna Turska, Institute
of History of Civilization for her friendly help and advices.
6. Dr S.K. Kuczyński was kind enough to help me in the heraldic problems. I am also grateful to Mr Winslow Ames for his
suggestions in this matter.
70