Illuminated leaf from "Les Grandes Chroniques royales" Compostela, Paris, France, 1350-1375

Description: Decoration: Tempera and gold leaf on parchment (min., 112 x 91 mm.) Text: Includes the opening of Book IV, chapter 1, of the Grandes Chroniques de France, a royal compilation of the history of France from its Trojan origins up to, in its final form with its continuations, the death of King Charles VII in 1461. Originally drafted and updated by the monks of the royal abbey of Saint-Denis, the vernacular text provided the "official" history of the French kings, but the present miniature is also related to Spain, crusades, and pilgrimages. Charlemagne stands crowned, accompanied by two of his courtiers/preux compagnons, as San Iago/Iacobus [di Compostella] appears to him in a vision. The saint is identified by his pilgrim staff, pack, book, and his hat (subsequent pilgrims to Compostela would dress like him for centuries). According to the Chronicle of Turpin and subsequent imitations, Sant Iago instructed Charlemagne (in a [day?] dream) to come to Galicia following the Milky Way (Campus Stellae) and wrest Spain from the Saracens. The text in French in this manuscript is approximately the same, although St. James also urges Charlemagne to go to Galilee and deliver the Holy Sites. Provenance: Acquired by Laurent Ferri in July 2016.