With Léon Bonnat's fine portrait of the _Duc d'Aumale_ our description
of the paintings at Chantilly comes to an end; but attention should yet
be drawn to various pieces of sculpture exhibited in the apartments of
the Château, on the terraces, in the gardens and in the Park. A fine
figure of _Jeanne d'Arc_ by Chapu is in the Rotunda, whilst a group of
_Pluto and Proserpine plucking daffodils_ by the same sculptor is on the
Great Terrace. Here also is the equestrian statue of the _Grand
Montmorency_ by Dubois; and not far from it a life-size figure of the
_Grand Condé_ by Coysevox, surrounded by busts of _Bossuet_, _La
Bruyère_, _Molière_ and _Le Nôtre_. Copies in marble from the antique
and the renaissance adorn the niches and plinths of the mansion and the
avenues of the Park. A figure of _St. Louis_ by Marqueste surmounts
the roof of the Chapel and Jean Goujon's reliefs ornament the Altar
within. The famous portrait in wax of _Henri IV_ is in the Galerie de
Psyché; and busts in marble of the _Grand Condé_ and of _Turenne_ by
Derbais, of _Richelieu_ and of the last Princes of the House of
Bourbon-Condé, are placed in the Cabinet des Livres and in various other
rooms. Fine bronzes by Barye, Mène, Fremiet and Cain, adorn the
mantel-pieces and consoles; whilst some exquisite enamel portraits by
Limousin are exhibited in the Salle des Gardes.
Most interesting, and worthy of more than a passing notice, is the
collection of Chantilly Porcelain, an industry founded in 1730 by the
Duc de Bourbon. A set of porcelain made at that time was placed in the
King's Bedroom.[142]
In the centre of the Galerie des Peintures stands a fine bust of the
_Duc d'Aumale_ by Dubois, and in the Marble Hall lies his recumbent
figure in full uniform by the same artist, a cast[143] of the marble
figure upon his tomb in the Cathedral at Dreux.
And so with the death of the man his work came to a close. But his
genius as a collector has furnished France with one of the finest Homes
of Art in the World; and she does well to remember with gratitude this
scion of the Bourbon race, who stretched out his hand to expiate much.
Every lover of Art throughout the world, and every wayfarer who in his
wanderings finds his way to Chantilly, may well stand amazed at this
collection and praise its creator. Nor in passing out should he fail to
give a last glance at the silent effigy: a glance in which gratitude
should be mingled with that emotion which ever holds the thoughtful
spectator of departed greatness.
[Illustration: PLATE LXXIX.
TOMB OF THE DUC D'AUMALE.
_In the Cathedral at Dreux. Cast at Chantilly._
Paul Dubois.]
INDEX
Abdul Kader, Duc d'Aumale's victory over, 117
_Accordée du Village, Le_, by Greuze, 262
_Adoration of the Magi_, by Jean Fouquet, 190, 191
Ahasuerus. See King
_Ailly, Heures de._ See Books of Hours
Aix-la-Chapelle, Peace of, 79
Albano, a work by, 132
Albret, Duc de. See Condé, fifth Prince de
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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