André Beauneveu’s Work for Jean, Duke of Berry (1386)

By 1386, the renowned sculptor, painter, and illuminator André Beauneveu, then about fifty-six years old, had traveled to Bourges to serve as artistic advisor to Jean, Duke of Berry. One of his key commissions during this period was the creation of twenty-four miniatures of apostles and prophets at the beginning of the so-called Duke’s Psalter.

Beauneveu’s Reputation and Legacy

• Although many of his works have been lost, Beauneveu was highly regarded in his time, especially for his sculptures, manuscript illuminations, and paintings.
• His contemporary, the historian Jean Froissart, praised him highly, recognizing his contributions to French Gothic art.

The Duke’s Psalter: A Masterpiece of Illumination

• Jean, Duke of Berry, one of the greatest art patrons of the late 14th century, commissioned Beauneveu to create illuminations for a personal Psalter.
• Beauneveu’s twenty-four miniatures of apostles and prophets were painted at the beginning of the manuscript, setting the tone for what was likely an elaborate devotional work.
• Though many of his paintings and sculptures have not survived, his stylistic influence on later Gothic manuscript illumination remains evident.

Significance of His Work in Bourges

• By working for Jean de Berry, Beauneveu was at the heart of the most sophisticated artistic patronage in late medieval France.
• His role as artistic advisor indicates his continued prominence in royal and ducal courts, even as he moved toward the later years of his career.
• His painterly skills and sculptural expertise influenced subsequent generations of artists in the International Gothic style.

André Beauneveu’s 1386 commission in Bourges for the Duke of Berry reflects his continued artistic prestige, marking him as one of the leading court artists of his generation, even as his surviving works remain scarce today.