Monday is Queens Day: 10 Laure de Noves

Laure de Noves was a real person, but the fact that she features amongst the 20 queens and illustrious women in the Luxembourg gardens may be based on a misidentification.

Laure de Noves may (or may not) be the woman who became the object of the remarkable Humanist writer Petrarch's unrequited passion. Very little is known about her, other than she grew up in Avignon and died there in 1348. She was married to Hugues de Sade (ancestor of the infamous marquis).

The Jardin du Luxembourg has statues of 20 French Queens and Illustrious women. The subjects were chosen by Louis-Philippe I in 1843. This statue was created by Auguste Ottin 1848. To see Laure looking demure you have to go here.

Eventually all 20 statues will be featured here.