The following is a poem added at the end of the Bible historiale that Jean Vaudetar presented to Charles V. It was written by the scribe Raoulet d'Orléans:

 

 A vous, Charles, roy plain d'onnour,

Qui de sapience la flour

Estes sur tous les roy du monde,

Pour le grant bien qu'en vous habonde,

Presente et donne cestui livre,

Et à genolz cy le vous livre

Jehan Vaudetar, votre servant,

Qui est cy figuré devant.

C'onques je ne vi en ma vie

Bible d'ystoires si garnie,

D'une main pourtraites et faites,

Pour lesquelles il en a faites

Pluseurs alées et venues,

Soir et matin, par my les rues

Et maintes pluye sus son chief,

Ains qu'il en soit venu a chief.

Si fu au prince sus nommé

Ce livre baillé et donné

Par ledit Jehan, que je ne mente,

L'na mil CCC XII et soixante

De bon cuer, et vausist mil mars,

XXVIII jours ou mois de mars

  

(transcription based on Meiss, Late Fourteenth Century, p. 21. and Rouse and Rouse, Manuscripts and Their Makers, II, p. 211 Appendix 10D)

 

 

See Sherman, Imaging Aristotle, esp. pp. 21-22 for biographical material pertaining to Oresme.

 

 

 

 

 

The inscription reads: "Anno Domini millesimo trecentesimo septuagesimo primo istud opus pictum fuit ad preceptum ac honorerem illustri principis karoli regis francie etatis sue trecesimoquinto et regni sui octavo; et iohannes de brugis pictor regis predicti fecit hanc picturam propria sua manu." The inscription can be translated as: "In 1371 this work was painted by order and to the honor of the illustrious prince Charles King of France who was 35 years old and the eighth year of his reign; and John of Bruges, painter of the said King, has made this picture with his own hand."

 

 

 

 

 

Sherman, "Representations of Charles V as Wise Ruler," p. 89.

 

 

 

 

 

En la confiance de l'aide de Nostre Seigneur Jhesu Crist, du commandment de tres noble et tres excellent prince Charles, par la grace de Dieu roy de France, je propose translater de latin en françois aucuns livres lesquelx fist Aristote le souverain philosophe, qui fu docteur et conseillier du grant roy Alexandre.

 

 

 

Meiss, Late Fourteenth Century, pp. 167-168. Avril, Manuscript Painting at the Court of France, pp. 20-23.

 

 

 

The description of the Throne of King Solomon: 1 (3) Kings 10: 18-20: 18: King Solomon also made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with the finest gold. 19 It had six steps: and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were two hands on either side holding the seat: and two lions stood, one at each hand. 20 And twelve little lions stood upon the six steps on the one side and on the other: there was no such work made in any kingdom.

 

 

For a discussion of the folding throne see Brigitte Bedos Rezak, 'Suger and the Symbolism of Royal Power: The Seal of Louis VII," in Abbot Suger and Saint-Denis: A Symposium, edited by Paula Lieber Gerson, New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1986, pp. 95-103.