Portrait du Grand Ferré

This illustration depicts Le Grand Ferré, a popular figure of the Hundred Years’ War associated with rural resistance against the armed bands that devastated the kingdom. He is shown in the midst of battle, raising a heavy axe above his head, while several men-at-arms surround him and armored bodies already lie on the ground. The scene emphasizes his exceptional strength, his offensive violence, and his role as a heroic defender in a context of war, plunder, and widespread insecurity. Produced long after the events, this image is not an authentic portrait but a legendary reconstruction that contributes to the heroic memory of Le Grand Ferré in French popular history.