Jeanne d’Arc

This illustration is from the title page of Maurice Boutet de Monvel’s original French edition of Jeanne d’Arc,¹ which remains his most famous, and arguably, best work. The book, published by Plon-Nuorrit in 1896, with engravings by Ducourtioux and Huillard, represents the high point of 19th century French children’s book illustration and was widely influential with 20th century illustrators.

Boutet has been described as “neither an historian or an author,” but that doesn’t really matter; the book survives not on its narrative, but on the spectacular quality of the illustrations:

Maurice Boutet de Monvel was born in 1851 in Orléans, France, and his family, long involved in theatre, supported his artistic interests. In 1869 he enrolled in the De Rudder School, and the following year, in the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he worked in the atelier of Alexandre Cabanel. After serving in the Franco-Prussian War he returned to art, studying under Jules Lefebvre, Gustave Boulanger, and in 1875, Charles-Emile Carolus-Duran. He became an accomplished painter of portraits, landscapes and Oriental subjects. In 1878 he exhibited at the Salon de Paris, where he won his first medal.

Portrait of Paul Mounet, ca.1875

But French Academic oil paintings didn’t pay the bills. Newly-married, and under financial constraints, he began accepting commissions for illustrations: from journals (St. Nicholas, Century and Scribner’s), advertisers (posters for Pate Dentifrice,² e.g.) and finally children’s books. Along the way he developed an entirely original watercolor style that owed as much to Japanese prints as it did to his French academic training:

A Siren, 1895

His magazine illustrations and posters are largely forgotten but his children’s books continue to be regarded among the high points of the golden age of book illustration, right up there with Caldecott and Greenaway. La France en zig-zags was published in 1881, Vieilles Chansons et Rondes pour les Petits Enfants (Old Songs and Rounds for Children) in 1883, Chansons de Francais pour les Petits (Songs for Little Frenchmen) in 1884, and Nos Infants in 1886.

Vieilles Chansons et Rondes pour les Petits Enfant, 1883

Nos Infants, in particular, established him as one of the premiere illustrators of children’s literature and he was soon besieged by portrait work from wealthy French families. So many commissions that he considered giving up illustration completely, but fortunately, he managed several more books, including Jeanne d’Arc in 1896.

Jeanne d’Arc³ was clearly a special project for Boutet. He grew up near her childhood home in Orléans and, after the disastrous (at least for the French) Franco-Prussian war, sought to bring a real-life French heroine to the page. He painted epic panoramic scenes in muted pastel colors, which he best described as “... not color, really, it is the impression, the suggestion of color.” Gerald Gottlieb, in his introduction to the 1980 version, likened his illustrations to the illuminated manuscripts of the 15th century.

Jeanne d’Arc was a major success and after an 1899 exhibition in the US he was commissioned to paint a six-panel cycle for the Basilica of Domrémy, and a later commission from Senator William A. Clark (D-Mt) for several panels for his home:

The Vision and Inspiration, 1911

The Turmoil of Conflict, ca.1905—1911

1. There have been more than a few editions of the book: Jeanne d’Arc. Paris: Plon-Nuorrit, 1896 (published as a trade edition, shown above, and a deluxe edition of 48 individual stone lithographs). Jeanne d’Arc. Philadelphia: D. McKay, 1918. Joan of Arc. New York: Century, 1926 (first English translation). Jeanne d’Arc. Paris: Gautier-Languereau, 1973. Jeanne d’Arc. New York: Viking Press, 1980. The original French version is available online.

2. That would be toothpaste.

3. Jeanne d’Arc, or Jehanne d’Arc, Jehanne la Pucelle, Joan of Arc, or Ste. Joan of Arc, AKA la Pucelle d’Orléans (the the Maid of Orleans), ca.6 Jan 1412―30 May 1431, is the national heroine of France and easily the most celebrated woman of the middle ages. Briefly: At the age of 13 Jeanne began hearing revelations from God through the voices of Saint Michael, Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret. They instructed her to lead the siege at Orléans, bring Dauphin Charles to Reims for his crowning and drive out the invading English troops. In July 1429, Dauphin Charles was crowned King of France. He had little use for Jeanne after that, but, in one of the ultimate displays of girl power, Jeanne kept fighting on until she was captured in battle against the Burgundians, who sold her the the English. The English put her on trial for witchcraft and heresy in a eccleastical court and found her guilty. She was burned at the stake in the market square of Rouen on 30 May 1431. In 1456 a papal court annulled the earlier Judgment, although it was a bit late to do her any good. In 1920, almost 500 years after her death, Pope Benedict XV, in the apostolic letter, Galliam, Ecclesiae filiam primogenitam, canonized her a saint.

22 Feb 2009 ‧ Illustration