Clémence Isaure

File:Clemence Isaure.jpg

Dame Clémence Isaure by Jules Joseph Lefebvre

Clémence Isaure is a quasi-legendary medieval figure credited with founding or restoring the Acadèmia dels Jòcs Florals or Academy of the Floral Games. She is supposed to have left a legacy to fund awards in the form of gold and silver flowers that the city would award annually to the best poets.

As the mythic founder of the games she is celebrated principally in Toulouse, where poems, sculptures, and paintings have been dedicated to her and a variety of places and institutions bear her name. In order to provide her with a realistic outline, she has been identified as a member of the Yzalguier family of Toulouse. In 1806 the rue des Yzalguier there was renamed the rue Clémence-Isaure. A tower at 7 de la rue Cujas was named the Tour Clémence Isaure. (It was demolished in 1817.)

For example, Charles Cros wrote in 1888:

Toulouse! ville antique où fleurissent encore
Pour les poètes, vos fleurs d’or, Clémence Isaure

Toulouse! ancient city where flourish still
For poets your golden flowers, Clémence Isaure

Iconography

• fr
• Clémence Isaure appearing to the troubadors, hall of the notables, Capitole de Toulouse

• Clemence Isaure.jpg

  Jules Joseph Lefebvre (1836-1911), Clémence Isaure, oil on canvas, private collection Fred and Sherry Ross

• Paris Jardins Luxembourg Clémence Isaure 2014.jpg

  Auguste Préault, Clémence Isaure. One of the Queens of France and Illustrious Women that stand in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris

• Clemence isaure et le Jeux Floraux.jpg

  Félix Saurines, Clémence Isaure distributing flowers to the troubadors, musée du Vieux Toulouse

• Fauveau Clémence Isaure (49 17 1).jpg

  Félicie de Fauveau, Clémence Isaure, Musée des Augustins.

• Griffoul-Dorval Clémence Isaure Musée des Augustins RA905.jpg

  Bernard Griffoul-Dorval, Clémence Isaure, Musée des Augustins

• Julie Charpentier Clémence Isaure Musée des Augustins 2004 1 90.jpg

  Julie Charpentier, Clémence Isaure, Musée des Augustins

• Laporte-Blairsy Clemence Isaure Musée des Augustins RA971.JPG

  Léo Laporte-Blairsy, Clémence Isaure, Musée des Augustins

• Rivalz Clémence Isaure Musée des Augustins Ro222.JPG

  Jean-Pierre Rivalz, Clémence Isaure, Musée des Augustins

• Alexandre Falguière Clémence Isaure Musée des Augustins 5172.jpg

  Alexandre Falguière, Clémence Isaure, Musée des Augustins

• Henri Martin Clémence Isaure Musée Paul Dupuy 96.5.1.jpg

  Henri Martin, Clémence Isaure, fr.

• Toulouse France Silver Medal 1819 Clémence Isaure, obverse.jpg

  Médaille Toulouse 1819, Clémence Isaure, 1450 Toulouse - 1500, et les Jeux Floraux, verso

• Toulouse France Silver Medal 1819 Clémence Isaure, reverse.jpg

  Médaille des Jeux Floraux à Toulouse 1819, recto

Bibliography

• Pierre Salies, Dictionnaire des rues de Toulouse, Toulouse, Éditions Milan, 1989
• Charles Cros, La Vision du grand canal des deux mers, 1888