Charles, Duke of Orléans, was one of the foremost lyric poets of 15th century France. Captured at Agincourt, he spent 25 years in captivity in England, spending most of his time writing poetry. Almost five hundred years later, Matisse paid tribute to the poet by selecting some of his poems, copying them in his own hand and adorning the manuscript text with coloured crayon decorations of rabbits, Fleurs-de-Lys, arabesques and portraits.