Text and Image in Rene d'Anjou's Livre des Tournois: Constructing Authority and Identity in Fifteenth-Century Court Culture

René d'Anjou's Livre des tournois is an illustrated manual that presents a comprehensive account of the organization of a medieval tournament. It survives in eight manuscripts, with the best of them being a magnificent work of art. Justin Sturgeon's interdisciplinary study explores the relationship between the images and text, the use and depiction of heraldry, the subject matter, René's sources, and the form of tournament he describes. The analysis of the visual presentation uses spatial and ritual theory to engage with a series of spectacles surrounding the punishment and review of the noble tourneyers. The physical manuscripts are examined, and the provenance and transmission of the work are reconstructed. The conclusion draws together threads of identity, authority
An interdisciplinary study of René d'Anjou's Livre des tournois, an illustrated manual that presents a comprehensive account of the organization of a medieval tournament. It explores the relationship between the images and text, the use and depiction of heraldry, the subject matter, René's sources, and the form of tournament he describes. The analysis of the visual presentation uses spatial and ritual theory to engage with a series of spectacles. The physical manuscripts are examined, and the provenance and transmission of the work are reconstructed. The conclusion draws together threads of identity, authority, and the importance of the Livre des tournois as a product of the culture and circumstances of its production.

Format: Hardback
Length: 1132 pages
Publication date: 13 September 2022
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

An illustrated manual, presenting a comprehensive account of the organization of a medieval tournament, is presented in this three-volume set. René d'Anjou's Livre des tournois, renowned as the most substantial surviving account of such events, is included in its entirety. This remarkable work is preserved in eight manuscripts, most of which share a nearly identical layout. Among these, the finest exemplar stands as a magnificent work of art in its own right. However, these manuscripts hold additional significance for cultural historians, as they represent one of the earliest illustrated manuals. Text and image are seamlessly integrated, forming a cohesive and holistic whole. The copyists of these manuscripts recognized the importance of maintaining the original mise en page, as it was an integral component of the entire work. Justin Sturgeon's interdisciplinary study delves into the intricate patterns and relationships that define the manual's unique character. The study begins by examining the interplay between the work's images and text, highlighting the author's authoritative stance on the subject matter. Subsequently, the use and depiction of heraldry are explored, as it plays a crucial role in constructing an embedded visual narrative within the text. The focus then shifts to the subject matter itself, encompassing René's sources and the idealized tournament he describes. Sturgeon demonstrates that René drew upon specific precedents to construct his idealized rendition of such events. An analysis of the visual presentation employs spatial and ritual theory to engage with a series of spectacles surrounding the punishment and review of noble tourneyers. The final section of the book concentrates on the physical manuscripts themselves. The codicological, textual, and visual evidence is meticulously examined, shedding light on the preservation and transmission of this invaluable historical document.

Dimension: 240 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783272693