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Artwork

Shield of Jacob of Luxemburg (after 1441-1488), Lord of Fiennes, in his capacity as knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece

Pierre Coustain

Shield of Jacob of Luxemburg (after 1441-1488), Lord of Fiennes, in his capacity as knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece, by Pierre Coustain, oil
Shield of Jacob of Luxemburg (after 1441-1488), Lord of Fiennes, in his capacity as knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece, by Pierre Coustain, oil

Shield of Jacob of Luxemburg (after 1441-1488), Lord of Fiennes, in his capacity as knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Pierre Coustain. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1491 by Pierre Coustain, a court artist serving Philip the Good, this oil painting portrays the personal heraldic shield of Jacob of Luxemburg, Lord of Fiennes. The work exemplifies the Northern Renaissance’s attention to detail and material richness, and it is presently part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The shield represents Jacob of Luxemburg in his capacity as a knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Central to the composition is a red‑and‑white checkerboard field, split into four quarters: two red panels bear a red lion, while the two white panels display a red starburst motif. A golden crown crowns the shield, underscoring the bearer’s noble status.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on panel, the painting combines precise brushwork with a luminous palette of reds, whites, and gold. A surrounding border of intricate gold filigree, stylized leaves, and a dragon motif frames the shield, while a deep black background heightens the contrast and emphasizes the opulent colors.

History & Provenance

Commissioned for the Burgundian court, the work reflects the period’s practice of documenting aristocratic identity through heraldic portraiture. After remaining in private collections for centuries, the painting entered the Rijksmuseum, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s Northern Renaissance holdings.

Context

The depiction aligns with the late fifteenth‑century Burgundian fascination with chivalric orders, particularly the Order of the Golden Fleece, founded by Philip the Good. Such heraldic representations served both as personal insignia and as visual affirmations of loyalty to the ducal court.

Artist & collection

Artist

Pierre Coustain

Pierre Coustain was a painter and sculptor at the Court of Philip the Good. His name occurs in the records of the brotherhood of St. Luke at Bruges in the year 1450 as Painter Royal.

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Rijksmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Rijksmuseum. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.