Jean Fouquet is without question the greatest French artist of his day. At the 15th century court of the French King Charles VII, based in the Touraine Loire Valley he painted stunning portraits of the Royal Family, and their close friends and associates. One such painting is of Etienne Chevalier, the King's right hand man. Although we only have a copy of the painting (the original is in Berlin) we can clearly see an object in this painting which has caused a small flurry of excitement recently. Saint Stephen, shown standing next to Etienne Chevalier, is portrayed in the traditional way holding a stone. But the image of the stone has recently been analysed and revealed to be a half million year old handaxe. If you would like to know more about where it came from, how scientists analysed it and what the artist and sitter may have believed about it at the time, make sure you book a tour with us that includes the charming small town of Loches. It may be off the tourist trail but it is packed with history.
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