Jean Renart, also known as Jean Renaut, was a Norman trouvère or troubadour from the end of the 12th century and the first half of the 13th century to whom three works are ascribed. Nothing else is known of him or his life. He is praised for his realism and his psychological insight.[1]
Firmly attributed to him are two metrical romances, L'Escoufle ("The kite") and Guillaume de Dole, and a lai, Lai de l’Ombre.
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Vigneras proposed in 1933 that the dates for Jean Renaut would have to be moved up: while other scholars dated his activities to 1195 and 1215, he dated L'Escoufle after 1245.[2]
Guillaume de Dole, "generally regarded as his chef d'oeuvre,"[3] is a longer narrative poem, notable for its incorporation of a large number of shorter lyric poems, including a number of chansons de toile.[4] The date of composition is usually placed early in the thirteenth century.[5]