THE PORTRAIT’S SECRET by Amy Maroney
Paris, 1536
When a woman holds a secret, does she keep it, or share it?...
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THE PORTRAIT’S SECRET by Amy Maroney
Paris, 1536
A Courageous Ride to Court By Amy Maroney
I’m currently working on
a novel about a fictional 16th-century woman artist caught up in the dramatic
last months of Anne Boleyn’s life. As part of the research for that book, I
found a passage from the French royal building accounts that describes artist
Jean Clouet’s wife, Jeanne
Boucault, journeying from Paris to Fontainebleau in 1537 to deliver paintings
to the king.
I was immediately
captivated by the image of this woman riding to court, carrying the precious
portraits through inclement weather, protecting them during stops at inns and
river crossings, and delivering them safely to King François I’s lavish
Renaissance court.
Did she make the journey
often? Why her? Did she have a hand in the creation of these portraits? Many
women did contribute to the artistic output of their families’ workshops. What
was it like for this daughter of a Tours goldsmith to enter King François I’s
world?
I decided to make this
unsung wife of King François’s favorite portrait artist the star of my story
for the “Courage” anthology. Digging deeper into history, I managed to uncover
a few more precious details about her. Jeanne (or Jehanne) Boucault (also Foucault…yes,
records from six centuries ago are inconsistent) was not only the daughter of a
skilled goldsmith. Her mother came from an illustrious family of royal metal
workers and armourists. Because I love artist Hans Holbein the Younger’s
jewelry designs, I decided to give this artsy-craftsy couple mad drawing
skills, too. And, in turn, I had them bestow their talents upon their daughter.
Next, instead of having
Jeanne Boucault ride to court in 1537 to deliver portraits to the king as
stated in the royal building accounts, I turned the clocks back a year to 1536.
In that year, Anne Boleyn was executed. Her powerful network of French friends
and allies would have quickly learned the news. I imagined Anne de Pisseleu
d’Heilly, Duchesse d’Étampes (King François’s official mistress), would have
been shaken by the events in Tudor England. After all, she would have crossed
paths with Anne Boleyn, as Anne was a lady in waiting for Queen Claude (King
François’s wife) during her years in France. Whether they were well acquainted
is a mystery, but it’s possible.
Another woman who
features in my next novel is Marguerite of Navarre, at that time the most
powerful woman in France. François I’s sister, she often stood in for Queen
Claude at court events. My research found that Marguerite and Anne de Pisseleu d’Heilly
were friendly. As an ardent religious reformer and intellectual, Marguerite was
also a strong influence on Anne Boleyn. A few letters from Anne to Marguerite
survive, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that Anne was a big fan of
Marguerite.
With an abundance of
rich fodder at hand, I crafted a story about Jeanne Boucault (I call her
Minette in the story for reasons explained in the narrative) carrying portraits
to court in June of 1536. But instead of delivering them to the king, she takes
them to Anne de Pisseleu d’Heilly. The king’s mistress shares the terrible news
about Anne Boleyn’s death, and Minette summons the courage to propose an
audacious plan that would give her reason to return to court.
I’m not sure if Minette
will appear in my forthcoming novel, but she has a place in my heart now.
History is full of courageous women, yet only a few of them are recorded and
honored. I’m grateful for the breadcrumbs left in the margins of history that led
me to this brave Frenchwoman and her long-ago ride to court.
Author Bio:
Amy Maroney lives in Oregon, U.S.A., and spent many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction before turning her hand to historical fiction. Amy is the author of the Miramonde Series, a trilogy about a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern-day scholar on her trail; and the Sea and Stone Chronicles, which features strong, talented women seeking their fortunes in the medieval Mediterranean. To receive a free prequel novella to the Miramonde Series, join Amy Maroney’s community of readers at https://www.amymaroney.com/
Author Links:
Website: https://www.amymaroney.com/
Amazon Author Page:
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| read a snippet |
THE PORTRAIT’S SECRET by Amy Maroney
Paris, 1536
When a woman holds a secret, does she keep it, or share it?
Minette
finished changing the plaster on Jean’s chest and carefully repositioned the
cushions supporting his head and neck. He coughed, a murky rattle that set her
teeth on edge. She tucked another wool blanket around him, for he’d been
shivering despite the fever.
“Fanou
should be here,” she said under her breath, taking her husband’s limp hand in
hers. “Why, by all the saints, must you and our son both be ill at the same
time? And me with child.”
Under the
spell of poppy milk and chamomile, Jean emitted a wheezy snore. Minette counted
back the days since their son had ridden for Tours. He’d gone to visit his
grandparents and developed a fever once there. She’d received word more than a
week ago that he had a bad cough, but the fever had broken and he was
recovering. Her capable mother had him in her care, and for that, Minette was
grateful.
Even if he’s well again, it’s four days’ hard riding back to Paris. The thought of him alone on those roads, still weak... Dieu le garde!
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Your stories are always full of compassion and emotionally charged, Amy. And this is the perfect example of how a single archival detail can blossom into a captivating story. I love how you managed to bring an almost-forgotten woman so vividly to life. I look forward to your forthcoming novel.
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