235. Jean II le Bon (John the Good),

King of France, 1349-1364. Tempera on wood,

55.5 x 34 cm. Musée du Louvre, Paris. Late Medieval.

 

 

This painting, now located in the Musée du Louvre, is possibly the earliest example of independent portraiture known in Western painting to survive from the post classical era. Jean le Bon was the king of France from 1350 until his death in 1364. He succeeded his father and was crowned at the Notre Dame de Reims and was known to have squandered his fortunes, but then later decided to take over the administration of his kingdom personally. He was known as the second sovereign of the House of Valois and is best remembered as the king who was vanquished at the Battle of Poitiers and taken as a captive in England.