11. The Court of Miracles Is Popular Fodder for the Arts
Victor Hugo was not the only artist fascinated by Henri Sauval’s vivid and detailed descriptions of life in the 17th century Court of Miracles. While his depictions of tragic and impoverished characters inspired by the Court are the most famous with English speaking audiences, many other artists in both literature and visual art were intrigued by the period and represented it in various formats.
French painter, illustrator and engraver Célestin Nanteuil was similarly intrigued by the Court and created the painting Gringoire In the Court of Miracles. Gringoire is a mildly fictionalized character based on Pierre Gringore, a French playwright, and appears in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Nanteuil’s painting depicts a classic moment in the novel which is set within the Court.
Countless sketches, maps, and engravings also depict the various classes of beggars within the Court. There is even an illustration that illustrates the different social orders within the beggars’ society along with their titles. “Poverty porn,” in which portrayals of suffering are intended to invoke sympathy to sell newspapers, art, etc. has been existence for centuries, and one wonders if some of the fascinations with the Court of Miracles stemmed from a similar phenomenon.