198 Notice of a Portrait of John, King of France. He proceeds to say that the original is injured by pieces of the colour having given way in the cheek and about the eye, although not so represented in his drawing ; that the painting is executed in a sort of thick body colour upon fine linen, the background of gold worn thin and almost entirely perished ; and that there is a sort of frame stamped or pricked out upon the surface of the gold, as seen in illuminations of books of that period. He adds, " It would seem as if the first layer upon which the gold is placed had been composed of the white of an egg, or some such glutinous substance." Mr. Edward Poynter says : " The portrait appears to be painted in tempera, or body colour, on a gesso ground, spread upon rather coarse canvas. There is round the portrait a wooden frame, formed of a small ogee moulding, which has boon gilded as well as the background. It has evidently been the original moulding round the panel, which was probably let into a wall." The original picture was removed to the Louvre on the formation of the new Musee des Souverains, in which are collected so many interesting memorials of the various dynasties which have governed France. I have mentioned that the execution of the portrait has been attributed to .lean cle Bruges, painter to Charles V., King of France ; but Mr. Edward Trollope has suggested, with much greater probability, that it was the work of Maltre Girard d'Orleans, King John's painter, who was with him in England, and is mentioned in several items of the accounts. This person appears to have discharged a multiplicity of duties; at Easter, 1352, we find him making chairs
- ind other necessary pieces of furniture for the King.
Pour une anno dc veluyau asure des fore, bailliccs u incstre Girart d'Orliens, paintrc, pour fairc les sieges do deux chaieres pour le Roy livrees en la dicte ehambre au terme de Pasques, 8 escus. I.odit maistrc Girart pour le fust et facon desdictes chaieres ouvrecs a orbevoies* a deux endrois, paintes et c-ouvertes de cuir par dcssouz ledit veluyau 10 1 . p. Ledit maistre Girart pour 2 selles necessaires feu trees et couvertcs de cuir et de drap delivrees n la dicte ehambre 6'. p. b A similar charge occurs for chairs etc., for six other members of the royal family of France, which seem to have been ornamented with the armorial bearings of the persons for whom they were destined. 6 Orbevoitt, pierced work filled up at the back, blind paneling. " Comptc d' Etienne de la Fontaine in Cotnptes de 1'Argenterie des Rois de France au 14 siecle, p. 111. The furnishing of such things seems to have been a privilege of the court painter both in France and Burgundy. See Count Laborde's Notice des Eraaux du Louvre. Glossaire, SelU necetsaire. c Comptes de 1'Argcnterie, p. 117.
