Gaston Phébus (1331-91). Gaston III, comte de Foix, known as Phébus because of his golden good looks, was a passionate hunter, and is principally known as author of the outstandingly popular Livre de la chasse (1387-91). Mainly based on personal experience and observation, this five-part treatise deals with the habits of game-animals, hunting-dogs and their ailments, the training of hounds, the tracking, killing, and butchering of stags and other game, and finally—but with a touch of aristocratic distaste—with the use of traps and nets. Many copies have informative, detailed miniatures; one (BN, f. fr. 616) is among the finest manuscripts in the world.
[Jane Taylor]
