coffret panel with scenes from the courtly romance, "La Chastelaine de Vergi", unknown maker from France

Artwork Overview

coffret panel with scenes from the courtly romance, "La Chastelaine de Vergi"
coffret panel with scenes from the courtly romance, "La Chastelaine de Vergi"
coffret panel with scenes from the courtly romance, "La Chastelaine de Vergi"
circa 1300–1375
coffret panel with scenes from the courtly romance, "La Chastelaine de Vergi" , circa 1300–1375
Where object was made: Duchy of Burgundy (present-day France)
Material/technique: ivory
Credit line: Museum purchase: Friends of the Art Museum
Accession number: 1966.0005
Not on display
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Spencer Museum of Art Highlights

This low-relief panel, one side of a small jewelry box known as a coffret, features four scenes from the courtly love poem The Chatelaine of Vergy. The first scene shows a knight defending his honor to his duke after the duchess falsely accuses him of seduction. As the tragedy unfolds, the maiden to whom the knight actually pledged his love is led by the jealous duchess to believe that her lover has betrayed her. In the end, the maiden dies of heartbreak, the knight kills himself in sorrow, and the duke kills the duchess for her deception.

Google Art Project

This low-relief panel, one side of a small jewelry box known as a coffret, features four scenes from the courtly love poem The Chatelaine of Vergy. The first scene shows a knight defending his honor to his duke after the duchess falsely accuses him of seduction. As the tragedy unfolds, the maiden to whom the knight actually pledged his love is led by the jealous duchess to believe that her lover has betrayed her. In the end, the maiden dies of heartbreak, the knight kills himself in sorrow, and the duke kills the duchess for her deception.

Exhibitions

Gardens of the Middle Ages
Jerry Stannard, curator
Marilyn Stokstad, curator
1983
Gardens of the Middle Ages
Jerry Stannard, curator
Marilyn Stokstad, curator
1983
Empire of Things
Kris Ercums, curator
Kate Meyer, curator
2013–2015
Google Art Project
2016
The Waning Middle Ages: An Exhibition of French and Netherlandish Art from 1350-1500
J. L. Schrader, curator
1969
Empire of Things
Kris Ercums, curator
Kate Meyer, curator
2016–2021
Images of Love and Death in Renaissance and Late Medieval Art
1975–1976
Songs of Glory: Medieval Art from 900-1500
1985
From the Collection of the University of Kansas
1971
Brosseau Center for Learning: Let’s Get Medieval
Kate Meyer, curator
Cara Nordengren, curator
2025

Resources

Audio

Didactic – Art Minute
Didactic – Art Minute
Episode 246. I’m David Cateforis with another Art Minute from the Spencer Museum of Art. Clandestine love, jealousy, betrayal, and death - all makings of a great soap opera - are contained in a small early 14th century ivory carving by an unknown French artist. This low-relief panel, one side of a small jewelry box known as a coffret, features four scenes from the courtly love poem “The Chatelaine of Vergy.” The first scene shows a knight defending his honor to his duke after the duchess falsely accuses him of seduction. As the tragedy unfolds, the maiden to whom the knight actually pledged his love is led by the jealous duchess to believe that her lover has betrayed her. In the end, the maiden dies of heartbreak, the knight kills himself in sorrow, and the duke kills the duchess for her deception. The story plays out elegantly and concisely in the artwork with large figures and simply indicated settings. During a period in history filled with plagues, religious schisms, and war, an escape into such a story was a welcome respite - not unlike our modern escape into television romance and novels. With thanks to Jennifer Talbott for her text, from the Spencer Museum of Art, I’m David Cateforis.