Fireplace Plaque Bearing The Coat Of Arms Of Armand Jean Du Plesis, Cardinal-duke Of Richelieu (84x94 Cm)

A rare mantelpiece plaque dating from the second quarter of the 17th century, bearing the large coat of arms of Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal-Duke of Richelieu and Fronsac (1585–1642), Bishop of Luçon in 1605, who served under the regent, Marie de’ Medici; she appointed him in 1615 as Grand Chaplain to the young queen, the Infanta Anne of Austria, then was created a cardinal in 1622, serving as chief minister to Louis XIII from 1624 until his death in 1642, at which time Cardinal Mazarin succeeded him.

Son of François du Plessis, Lord of Richelieu, ..., Advisor to the King in his Council of State and Privy Council, Knight of the Orders in 1585, and married to Suzanne de La Porte, lady-in-waiting to Queen Louise of Lorraine, in 1580.

In 1622, he was elevated to the rank of cardinal, hence the clerical hat with twenty tassels.
1626 marks the date of his appointment to the office of Grand Master, Chief, and General Superintendent of Navigation and Commerce of France, hence the two-bladed anchor beneath the shield.
In 1629, he was elevated to the rank of Peer of France, hence the mantle bearing the coat of arms on the shield.
In 1633, he became a Commander of the Order of the Holy Spirit, hence the ribbon and its cross.

This plaque was therefore cast between 1633 and 1642, probably in the Marne region.

Coat of arms: Argent, three chevrons Gules.
A ducal crown and a Peer’s mantle; the shield, resting on an anchor, is surrounded by the cord of the Order of the Holy Spirit and surmounted by a cap with twenty tassels.

Fireplace plaque from the home of Eugène Alluaud, a painter and ceramicist in Crozant, Creuse.
A very slight crack is visible in the lower part.
It weighs 117 kg.

Bibliography:
- PALASI, P., *Heraldic Fireplace Plaques*, Gourcuff Gradenigo, Paris, p. 101, no. 103.
- *Dictionary of the Nobility containing the genealogies, history, and chronology of the noble families of France*, La Chênaie-Desbois and Badier, third edition, Volume 15, pp. 947–949.
- Pierre d'Hozier. BNF, Rare Books Reserve Department, RES-LL14-23. Our second-to-last photo.
- Engraving on display at the library of the Peace Palace in The Hague. Our last photo.

Thank you to Ms. Christine Chazeau for her research and tenacity.
You can visit our website: www.claudeaugustin.com