New Drawing

This picture of the Maid of Orleans was drawn on commission. The materials are colored inks and gold leaf on goatskin parchment, cut to 10" x 8".

The central image, with its equestrian portrait of St. Joan, is inspired by several sources, John Duncan's 1896 painting Jehanne d'Arc et sa Garde Ecossaise being the most obvious.

St. Joan's banner is drawn according to contemporary descriptions, with Christ in Majesty holding an orb, flanked by two angels, one holding a lily and one holding a sword; the words Jhesus Maria; and fleurs-de-lis.

In the corners are depicted the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, and St. Joan's three guiding voices: St. Michael, St. Catherine of Alexandia and St. Margaret of Antioch. These are based on drawings in illuminated Books of Hours from the late Middle Ages.

The text written around the border is excerpted from the Ditie de Jehanne d'Arc, a poem written by by Christine de Pisan in 1429, about a year before St. Joan's capture:


Tu, Jehanne, de bonne heure née,
Benoist soit cil qui te créa!
Pucelle de Dieu ordonnée,
En qui le Saint Esprit réa
Sa grant grace, en qui ot et a
Toute largesse de hault don,
N'onc requeste ne te véa.
Qui te rendra assez guerdon?


Blessed be He who created you, Joan, who were born at a propitious hour! Maiden sent from God, into whom the Holy Spirit poured His great grace, in Whom there was and is an abundance of noble gifts, never did Providence refuse you any request. Who can ever begin to repay you?

Signed giclée art prints are available for $80 plus packing and postage. These are printed on heavy rag paper, at actual size. The same print with hand-applied gold leaf costs $180.