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Topic: usefullness of Harmand

McIntosh
Member
Member # 166

posted 10-05-2001 03:04 PM

Does any body find Adrian Harmand's text on the clothing and armor of Joan of Arc useful? Is there an English translation? Has any body tracked his sources down or subjected the text to critical analysis? How do his reconstructions compare to other attempts? In short is Harmand trustworhy on the subject? I ask because I don't read any French and must therefore work from the pictures alone.

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McIntosh

Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

Gwen
Member
Member # 126

posted 10-05-2001 04:25 PM

Does any body find Adrian Harmand's text on the clothing and armor of Joan of Arc useful?
I did a reconstruction of Joan of Arc’s clothing for the Higgins Armoury Museum about 6 months ago using Harmand’s book. See the finished product here:
http://www.wolfeargent.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=000041

I thought I had posted a review of the book at the time, but I nothing is coming up on a search of this site.
Is there an English translation?
None that I am aware of, and I looked.

Has any body tracked his sources down or subjected the text to critical analysis?
Briefly, for each item of clothing and harness the text gives you details from Joan’s trial documents (the trial was painstakingly documented), then supporting info from contemporary texts, then a possible pattern.

The text from the trials appears to be the same as that I found in other books on the subject. I don't have the text of the trial documents as a monograph so I don't know what's missing, and my French is not good enough to look for fine translation discrepancies. I found some of the same phrases are repeated in several sources, so possibly they are all working from the same translation. It is possible that the translation is flawed because noone with the technical tailoring/textile knowledge and a proficiency in 15th C. French has undertaken a translation; however, I looked at period artwork to back up the text and it appeared to agree.

In short is Harmand trustworhy on the subject?
I thought both the background and supporting information was complete and the patterns were good. Just remember that the patterns are speculative, and are not taking from any surviving garments (not that there are any that I’m aware of.)

How do his reconstructions compare to other attempts?
By whom?

I labored through the book for several months and would be happy to help you with anything I can. I drew up patterns from those given in the book, and the Higgins did provide me with several translated passages when my French proved unequal to the task of translating whole pages of text.

Gwen

Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

J.K. Vernier
Member
Member # 123

posted 10-06-2001 12:59 AM

The one pattern in Harmand which seems not to be entirely speculative, is the one taken off the surviving pourpoint of Charles de Blois. I believe Harmand is the source for the pattern which has been republished in a number of places since, but I would very much like to know what level of detail Harmand discusses about the pourpoint. Did he examine it himself?

Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

Gwen
Member
Member # 126

posted 10-06-2001 04:36 PM

I looked at that passage and frankly, I can't tell how he got his information. He goes into a good bit of detail describing how ththe CoB garment has the "grand asiette" style of sleeves and how they differ from the "jupon in 4 quartes" style Joan wound up with, but I can't tell if Harmand actually handled the CoB, or where he got his info.

I'll bring the book home and you can look at it on Wednesday.

Gwen

Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

McIntosh
Member
Member # 166

posted 10-08-2001 12:22 PM

Thanks all. I think I can continue now.

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McIntosh

Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

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