Jean Le Noir: Shadow and Light in Medieval Paris The name Jean Le Noir – “John the Black” – evokes a certain mystery, hinting at both the artist’s appearance and the somber beauty of his illuminated manuscripts. Active primarily during the latter half of the 14th century in the heart of Parisian art, Jean Le Noir stands as a pivotal figure in the evolution of French manuscript illumination, bridging the stylistic legacy of Jean Pucelle with the burgeoning naturalism that would define the Gothic era. His work, particularly the celebrated Psalter of Bonne de Luxembourg and the Petites Heurs du…