Neon, Pere. L'Amazone Francoise. Rouen: Pierre Cabut, 1729-Aurélia, ou Orléans Délivré. Paris, 1738.

Among other admirers of Joan,the French scholar Jean Chapelain published a monumental biography in verse, La Pvcelle, ov La France Delivrée. It is generally accounted mediocre, but it inspired a far more masterful work.

M. Chapelain. La Pvcelle, ov La France Deliverée: Poëme Heroïque. Third edition, revised. Paris: Augustin Courbé, 1657

When Voltaire read this poem he declared that the French language was not suitable for the heroic epic - and began work on his mock heroic Pucelle. Voltaire takes the appellation 'the Maid' literally, and turns the historical contest between the French and the English into a battle for Joan of Arc's virginity, upon which the fate of the war depends.

Francois Marie Arouet De Voltaire. La Pucelle D'Orleans: Poeme Divise en Vingt Chants, Avec des Notes. Geneva: Cramer, 1762

In a work which focuses on the sexual exploits and desires of the characters (ascribed without regard to historical fact) the Maid is the subject of a series of attempted rapes and seductions, and in fact becomes the lover of the Count Dunois. It is difficult not to see in the risqué engravings, attributed to Henri Gravelot, a reflection of the 'heroic' nudity in the edition of Chapelain. In the illustration shown above , Joan has been defeated in battle by John Chandos; he intends to rape her, but he will be denied this 'victory' when St. Denis makes him impotent. In the image above rignt, she escapes the attentions of her heaven-sent winged donkey.