The Burning Bush Triptych is a large painted altarpiece by Nicolas Froment, made in 1475–1476 for King René of Anjou, Count of Provence, and now kept in Aix-en-Provence's Cathedral of Saint-Sauveur. Its central panel shows something unusual: the Virgin and Child enthroned on top of the burning bush from the Book of Exodus, while Moses, taking off his shoes, watches from below. It is one of the best-known paintings of 15th-century Provence.
The Burning Bush Triptych at a glance
- Where: in Saint-Sauveur Cathedral, on Rue Gaston-de-Saporta in the north of the old town of Aix-en-Provence.
- Created: 1475–1476, oil on wooden panels.
- By: Nicolas Froment, a painter working in Avignon, commissioned by René of Anjou, known in Provence as Good King René.
- What it is today: the most famous artwork in the cathedral, displayed in a side chapel after a restoration completed in 2011.
- Time needed: 15 minutes for the triptych, 45 minutes to an hour with the rest of the cathedral.
From a convent church to the cathedral
René of Anjou, Duke of Anjou, Count of Provence and titular King of Naples, Sicily and Jerusalem, spent his last years in Aix and was a keen patron of the arts. He commissioned the triptych in 1476 for the church of the Grands-Carmes, the Carmelite convent in Aix, where it was to stand above the place chosen for the burial of his entrails. The work is heavy: with its frame it weighs around half a ton.
The Carmelite convent was destroyed in 1792 during the French Revolution, but the altarpiece survived and was moved to Saint-Sauveur Cathedral in 1808. It has stayed there since. After a long restoration it was put back in the cathedral in January 2011, in the Saint-Lazare chapel. Today it is seen as a key work of the so-called School of Avignon, which mixed Flemish detail with Provençal light.
What to look for
- The central scene: Mary and the Christ Child sit on a burning bush that grows out of a rock, while an angel speaks to Moses, who is guarding his sheep and taking off his shoes.
- The landscape behind: a walled town on the right that recalls Avignon, and a castle on the left that may be René's château of Saumur in Anjou.
- The left wing: King René kneeling in prayer, with Mary Magdalene, Saint Anthony and Saint Maurice behind him, and his coats of arms.
- The right wing: his wife, Queen Jeanne de Laval, kneeling before her prayer book with Saint John, Saint Catherine and Saint Nicholas.
- The painted frame with the twelve Kings of Judah, and the outer shutters, painted in grey tones as an Annunciation.
Reading the picture
The image draws on a medieval idea: the bush that burned without being consumed was read as a symbol of Mary, who became a mother while remaining a virgin. That is why Froment placed her inside the flames, and an inscription on the frame refers to her virginity. Look for the small details that carry meaning, such as the mirror held by the Child, the medallion of Adam and Eve on the angel's chest and the twelve branches of the bush. Together they turn a story from Exodus into a meditation on the Incarnation.
Tips for your visit
- Saint-Sauveur is a working cathedral: visit outside services, keep your voice down and dress respectfully.
- Light in the chapel can be dim; give your eyes a moment and look at the details closely rather than from a distance.
- If the wings happen to be closed, the grisaille Annunciation on the outer panels is part of the work too.
- Also see the 6th-century baptistery, the Romanesque cloister and the carved walnut doors of the main portal.
Nearby
- Saint-Sauveur's cloister: a late 12th-century cloister with slender paired columns and carved capitals, next to the cathedral.
- Musée des Tapisseries: tapestries and decorative arts in the former archbishop's palace, just beside the cathedral.
- Place de l'Hôtel de Ville: the town hall square with its clock tower and flower market, a few minutes' walk south.
- Cours Mirabeau: Aix's grand plane-lined avenue with fountains and cafés, a short walk further south.
See Aix-en-Provence with World City Trail
Our Aix-en-Provence scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route takes around two hours, with about 43 minutes of walking, and lets you explore the streets, squares and fountains of Aix at your own pace.
If you prefer a different format, Aix-en-Provence also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
Play the Aix-en-Provence scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Aix-en-Provence →
Play the outdoor escape game in Aix-en-Provence →
Facts checked in October 2026.