16th century French school Commemorative diptych representing Charles III, Duke of Bourbon (1490-1527) Oil on oak panels, rounded at the top, diptych Inscribed in gold on the inside right panel: 'Charles duc de bourbonnais / d'auvergne et de chastellerault / Prince de dombes conte de / cler(...)ot de montpâchier de / forrets et de la marche, vico / te de carlat et de murat dauphin / d'auvergne seigur. de beauiolais / et de bourbon -Lanceÿs / beaufort conestable per et / chaberlain de france qui / demoura a Rome. L'an 1527 / au mois d'augoust.' An inscription in gold lettering on the outer left flap: 'EPITAPHIVM. / AVCTO IMPERIO, SUPERATA ITALIA / DEVICTO GALLO, PONTIFICE OBSESSO / ROMA CAPTA CAROLI BORBONII HOC / MARMOR CINERES CONTINET A° DNI 1527. / CONSILIIS CALCHAS, ANIMO HECTOR, / ROBORE ACHILLE / FLOQUIO NESTOR / IACET HIC / BORBONIVS HEROS. / France gave me laict / Spain strength and aduenture / But Rome has by death deffaict me / In Gayette is my sepulture. Francia me dio la leche / Espania esfuerco n ventura / Roma me dio la muerte / Gaeta la sepultura.' Bears a '29' label on the edge (Restorations) Memorial diptych of Charles III, Duke of Bourbon, oil on oak panels, French School, 16th C. 8.66 x 6.69 in. 22.0 x 17.0 cm Provenance: Collection of a Belgian noble family The life of Charles III de Bourbon is a typical Renaissance epic, where war meets pomp and loyalty sometimes turns to betrayal. Through his marriage to Suzanne de Bourbon, niece of King Charles VIII, he united the ducal branch of the House of Bourbon with that of the Montpensier branch. His immense estates, covering the Auvergne and Bourbonnais in particular, restored him to the rank of those great lords of the Middle Ages, whose power had to be diminished before modern France could be created. François I owed his most famous success to him, as it was he who commanded his army at the battle of Marignan. He then earned the title of Constable of France and successfully defended Milan against the imperials. However, the jealousy of the Queen Mother, Louise of Savoy, and the danger that the Constable de Bourbon represented for the Court prompted the King to instrumentalise a trial on the death of his wife in 1521, in order to reclaim their territories. Dispossessed and isolated, he pledged his allegiance to Emperor Charles V, who entrusted him with his army. Victorious at Pavia in 1525, he was killed at the head of his men during the siege of Rome in 1527. 16th century French school 22.0 x 17.0 cm The life of Charles III of Bourbon is a typical Renaissance epic, where war meets pomp and loyalty sometimes turns to betrayal. Through his marriage to Suzanne de Bourbon, niece of King Charles VIII, he united the ducal branch of the House of Bourbon with that of the Montpensier branch. His immense estates, covering the Auvergne and Bourbonnais in particular, restored him to the rank of those great lords of the Middle Ages, whose power had to be diminished before modern France could be created. François I owed his most famous success to him, as it was he who commanded his army at the battle of Marignan. He then earned the title of Constable of France and successfully defended Milan against the imperials. However, the jealousy of the Queen Mother, Louise of Savoy, and the danger that the Constable de Bourbon represented for the Court prompted the King to instrumentalise a trial on the death of his wife in 1521, in order to reclaim their territories. Dispossessed and isolated, he pledged his allegiance to Emperor Charles V, who entrusted him with his army. Victorious at Pavia in 1525, he was killed at the head of his men during the siege of Rome in 1527.