When the 15th-century illuminator Jean Fouquet was set the task of illuminating Josephus's Jewish Antiquities, his depiction of Solomon's Temple was modelled on the nearly complete cathedral of Tours. The atmosphere of the Gothic cathedral close permeates Honoré de Balzac's dark short novel of jealousy and provincial intrigues, Le Curé de Tours (The Curate of Tours) and his medieval story Maître Cornélius opens in the cathedral itself.
WhEn the 15Th-CenTury iLLuminATOr jeAn fouQuEt waS seT tHe tAsk oF iLlUMinaTInG jOSePhUS's jEWIsH aNTiQUitiEs His depiction of sOLomON's teMple Was MoDeLlED ON The nEarly cOMPLete catHeDraL Of TouRs the atmosPhEre of thE gOtHiC CatHeDral ClosE perMEates honoré dE baLzac's daRK shORt nOveL oF jealousy and PRovInCial intrIGuEs Le curÉ de toUrs (THe CURAte OF tours) AND his meDieVaL StORy maîtrE CoRnéLius opens in ThE cathedraL itsELF