Virgin of Jeanne d'Evreux

The Virgin of Jeanne d'Evreux, is a Gothic sculpture created sometime between the years 1324 and 1339. This figure stands at 68 cm tall and is made from gilded silver, stones, pearls, and the earliest dated French translucent enamels. The piece itself was donated to the abbey of Saint-Denis by Jeanne d'Evreux in 1339 as inscribed in the pedestal. Currently, this sculpture is now found on display within the Louvre Museum in France.

Jeanne d'Évreux was born in 1310 in the town of Évreux, France. Her parents were Count Louis of Évreux and Marquerite d'Artois and also was the great-granddaughter of King Louis the IX who ruled in France in 1226 until his death. She married to Charles IV on July 5, 1324 who was the son of Philip IV and Queen Jeanne de Navarre. The time she spent with her husband was relatively short and became widowed only after four years of marriage. However, during this time, King Charles commissioned the manuscript known as The Book of Hours of Jeanne d'Évreux as a gift to his wife. During the time of their marriage, Jeanne never bore any male heir.

In the 13th century, the Gothic style of art began to emerge and spread throughout all of Europe. This style strayed from Romanesque art and focused on the realism and naturalism. Proportions as well as reality were very important in these pieces of art. Sculptures were made to represent real human emotions and gestures which brought back some of the Classical techniques of art that were lost for so long.

Many of the sculptures created in this time period could be placed within a home, or were donations for churches and abbeys. Sculptures of the Virgin Mary alone or with Christ as a child were quite popular these days. Mystic animals such as the gargoyles were also found on many different buildings which would scare off any evil ghosts or spirits. Sculptures were mostly found on the exteriors of buildings as well as the interiors. During this time period, more and more of these works of art were created free-standing rather than just attached to a wall or column.

Architecture throughout the Gothic ages began with the construction of various cathedrals including ones the abbey church of Saint-Denis which not only was highly decorated with wondrous statues, but was also the resting place of their kings. The churches in these times were made larger by introducing the ribbed vaults. These ribbed vaults enlarged the clerestory and windows while allowing them to bear more weight from the building with the help of buttresses. Overall, these ribbed vaults helped to expand the space, making the Gothic churches larger.

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