Images of Medieval Art and Architecture
The Treasure of Saint Denis

Reliquary Statue of Saint Madeleine


Images

Adapted from Félibien, Plate II, Item D

Click here for a larger version


Texts


Description

Reliquary of gold vermeil which represents the figure of Saint Madeleine raised a bit on a small pedestal covered with fleurs-de-lis. On the base of the reliquary are kneeling figures of King Charles V, Queen Jeanne de Bourbon, his wife, and the dauphin Charles, their son, as can be seen in the coats-of arms engraved below their figures, and by the inscription : Ce joyax d'argent fit faire le roy Charles fils du Jehan & y est en or en vesele garni de pererie le manton de la benoite Madelaine, laquel fut donne audit Roy par les de Montmornsy qui par le terme de plus de cent ans avoit de pere en fiz de fes T

Today, the main figure of this reliquary carries a finger of Saint Bartholomew the apostle, instead of the chin of Saint Madelaine which was apparently plundered or lost during the frequent moves of the treasure during the civil wars which have occurred so many times since the death of Charles V. On the reliquary have been added the coats-of-arms of Anjou and of Hungary, which could have belonged to Queen Clémence, wife of Louis X.

Félibien, pages 538. Translated by Jane Vadnal.


Subsequent History

Unknown


Bibliography

Félibien, pages 430, 538.


Return to

FÉLIBIEN
PLATE 1

SAINT-DENIS
TREASURES

SAINT-DENIS
MAIN PAGE

FRANCE

INTRODUCTION


Last updated by:JV Date: November 28, 2006