"Henry IV At The Siege Of Montmélian In Savoy In 1600."
This painting is an evocation of the siege and the capture of Montmélian by the French in 1600, a famous episode of the War of Savoy. The fortress was a key device in the military system of the Duke of Savoy; Faced with the deployment of forces and resources mobilized by Henry IV, the defenders did not seek much to resist, which greatly annoyed the Duke of Savoy and caused much ink to flow. Public opinion regarded this capitulation as shameful; contemporary historians dwell at length on the many twists and turns of this affair (see Pierre Matthieu, ed. 1605, III, f. 297-306), so that our painting would bring together several episodes in the same scene.The presence of Henri IV would refer in particular to his visit to Montmélian on November 14 and to his meeting with the Comte de Brandis, Savoyard governor of the place, in the cloister of the Jacobins. The Count of Brandis wears the cordon of the order of the Most Holy Annonciade (the Savoyard order founded in 1362); at his side stand the two hostages handed over to the French: Rance, lieutenant of the governor, and Cassin his nephew. The cannons are either those found in the citadel, or those that the French had positioned.
Note the free transposition of the full-length portrait of Henri IV by Rubens, taken from that of Rubens for the Luxembourg gallery (2 scenes: Henri receives the portrait of Marie de Médicis and The handing over of the regency to Marie de Medici). Finally, the plan of the city, the citadel and the mountains corresponds well to the old engraved views of Montmélian and its landscape.
Oil on canvas.
Work from the first third of the 19th century, around 1830.
Dimensions: 63 cm x 90 cm
Good condition.
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