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

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.