Biography

Jean (Jehan) Pucelle was a French manuscript illuminator. Little is known of his career, but his large workshop dominated Parisian painting in the first half of the 14th century. He enjoyed court patronage and his work commanded high prices. Certain features of his work - particularly his mastery of space - indicate that he probably travelled in Italy early in his career, and he was also familiar with Flemish developments. It was the synthesis of these two elements, allowing for an increasing penetration of naturalistic representation into traditional iconography, which formed the basis for Pucelle's individual style.