The topics of this blog are Armand-Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Duke of Richelieu, and the IDEAL CITY built on his command next to his magnificent CHÂTEAU on the borders of Touraine, Anjou and Poitou, in France.

Monday 28 February 2011

The Wallace Collection 2 - S.V.P

S'il vous plait - if you please - Societé Vincent de Paul.



When the cardinal-duc founded our little town, he put the souls of the new inhabitants in the hands of his contemporary chum, Vincent de Paul 1581-1660, later canonised 'Saint' Vincent in 1737.  De Paul visited and stayed in the cité idéale in its early days, maybe to ensure the solidity of congregation in the agenda of the Counter-Reformation following the Council of Trent.  This part of France is quite close to the Vendée and the Charentes of La Rochelle,  fountain and battleground of Hugenot heresy.

The venerated ecclesiastic is still a strong influence in the Roman Church and the inspiration of many Vincent de Paul Societies, even a university in Chicago!

On visiting the Wallace Collection in Manchester Square London to look for famous works of French art, we spied this van of the London Branch of the S.V.P 'helping locally', 'turning concern into action'.

Well done big Vince!

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Friday 25 February 2011

Paul Delaroche's two pictures at the Wallace Collection, London

The Wallace Collection, located just north of Oxford Street in central London, has a huge and impressive collection of French art and artefacts.  Among them are these two famous 19th century interpretations of famous historical scenes painted by Paul Delaroche.  
The first canvas was the inspiration of the book 'Cinq Mars' by Alfred de Vigny.
The cardinal's barge leads Cinq Mars and de Thou down the Rhone to their execution on the scaffold in Lyon.

The deathbed of Cardinal Mazarin in 1671.
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Wednesday 23 February 2011

le retour

The movie celebrates the return to Richelieu of Janet, to be welcomed by a large company.
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Friday 18 February 2011