La galerie des portraits de BEAUREGARD

Les personnages qui ont construit l’EUROPE d’aujourd’hui

Un endroit idéal pour nous rafraîchir la mémoire et potentiellent faire le lien avec les politiciens actuels qui aiment bien appeler les héros d’hier à la rescousse pour les projets actuels.

La galerie des Illustres de BEAUREGARD ouvre un panorama au public qui apprécie les représentations historiques. Celles-ci permettent de mieux comprendre le présent et d’en éclairer les enjeux…L’histoire d’une société nourrit la mémoire collective, soulève les passions et contribue à la constitution d’identités fortes.

Eh oui ! Comme la plupart des châteaux de la Loire, BEAUREGARD est impliqué dans les enjeux politiques et sociales (Centre même de l’Humanisme et de la Renaissance) tant au passé qu’au présent.
La galerie des portraits à BEAUREGARD, c’est un outil pédagogique par excellence où les invités de Paul Ardier faisaient de l’histoire un objet de débats passionnés dans lesquels on condamne volontiers l’ignorance.

Equestrian art

« To give back the horse, the intelligence that rightly belongs to him » (Le Grand Ecuyer, François Baucher 1796-1873)

The paintings that you observe in the Lascaux’s cave are considered to be one of the first pieces of art in the world. They bear witness of the fascination that men hold for horses over decades . To the political elite and the first societies built in this world, horses always have been symbol of power. As a divine and heroic attribute, the horse becomes an instrument necessary for power which associates the look as well as its military power. Plutarch told the legend of Alexander the Great with his horse called Bucephalus, which participated in its kingdom’s rise, and has since been used again to comment on princes and young aristocrats’ education.
This balance between rider and horse symbolizes the natural link between governing and being governed. The horse is the allegory of power and its exercise.

In a lot of European monarchies and also Arabic ones, the horse is associated with celebrations and Court ceremonies. We interest ourselves in the upgrade of the races, we create stables, and we put the highlight on the horses. With equestrian art it develops by different art, ironwork, textiles, and leathers, destined to bring out the stature of the rider and the horse.

A king on a horse is an image of power by the dominant side of it; the king is in control of the horse. This is a metaphor on the leading of the state. The reference is the equestrian statue of Marc-Aurèle on the Capitol which is used as a model in the Middle Ages for the Charlemagne’s statue (which actually represents its grandson Charles). The bronze equestrian statue is then reintroduced in Italy during the 15th century, in the affirming of the mercenaries’ power.
The tradition arrives in France by Italian masters: Louis the 12th on a horse in a niche with flamboyant decoration in Blois, Francis the 1st and his son Henri the 2nd are the first to be represented alone on horses out of battles or ceremonial context. The developed formula during many years by the most famous portraitists is efficient, and has made its impact on minds and on centuries; it’ll be used again by Jacques Louis David to paint many portraits of Napoleon Bonaparte. The horse symbolizes a new form of majesty between triumph of personal will and incarnation of the State by popular approval.

The equestrian portrait of Henry the 4th has its role in the birth of a legend.
A piece of fabric on his right shoulder, floating on his back. He is wearing leggings in fabric which reminds us of metal leggings that soldiers were wearing in the Antiquity to protect themselves.
His left hand is holding the reins of a running horse. Embossed horse mane, thin neckline, head slightly tilted on the left, raised and knotted tail, powerful muscles, proud looks, this horse is to be appreciated as the model of aristocracy at the end of the 16th century. It is the figure of victorious and the peacemaker, but also an excellent horse rider.

Henry the 4th, prince without armor, on a running horse, with the background of the Seine and the Pont Neuf in Paris. We can think of “veni vidi vici” of Julius Caesar. Henry the 4th enters in the city to rule Paris. He has a smooth figure. The King on his white horse shows us the direction and shouts“Soldier, if you lose your way, look for my white plume, you will always find it on the way to honor and glory”. His bravery and his victory are increasing his popularity. Having the reputation of not allowing pillages and respect for churches, Henry is winning the hearts of Catholics (being Protestant himself). This painting shows the theatrical movement of a great king riding his horse.
The horse also deserves a very special attention; its mass and its authenticity are competing with the strong impression that leaves the painting on us. His head seems to obey any of the King’s commands
We appreciate This portrait of a good king and see, an excellent rider. A physiognomy particularly alive by the way it’s looking especially with the little smile on his face. He’s watching us. It’s a figure already fully committed to general memory. This painting is settling the issue between power (propaganda of good image) and art. This knight king will be copied by Louis the 14th and Napoleon the 1st.

Henry the 4th

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Few chronological benchmarks

1314: Death of Philip the 4^th. His sons are successors to “the cursed kings”.1328: Advent of Phillip the 6^th, first Valois King.1337: Edouard EDWARD the 3^rd, King of England, claims his rights on the French crown . The Beginning of the hundred year war.

1350: Advent of Jean the 2^nd. Defeat at Poitiers.1364: Advent of Charles the 5^th. Recapture of France after falling into the hands of The British

1380: Advent of Charles the 6^th, suffering a mental illness , he let his wife Isabeau of Bavière, rule the country.

1422: Advent of Charles the 7^th. Il établit le pouvoir royal en Touraine, à Chinon et à Loches.

1429: Coronation of Charles the 7^th his reign was in the company of Joan of Arc.

1451: Jean Doulcet settled in Beauregard with the approval of Charles of Orleans, the duke of Orleans.

1453: Battle of Castillon. The end of the hundred year war.

1461: Advent of Louis the 11^th.

1477: Death of Charles the Reckless, duke of Burgundy, annexation of Burgundy.

1483: Advent of Charles the 8th, regency of Anne and Pierre of Beaujeu, his aunt and uncle.

1491: Union of Charles the 8th and Anne, duchess of Brittany. The royal court settles in Amboise.

1492: Christopher Columbus discovers the New World.

1494: Beginning of italian conquest. Renaissance arrives in the Loire Valley.

1495: Beauregard is erected in seigneury (allowed to build a dovecote).

1498: Advent of Louis the 12th. The royal court established in Blois.

1499: François Doulcet convicted of fraud towards Louis 12^th; Beauregard is taken from him and returned to the Crown’s possessions.

1515: Advent of Francis the 1^st, victory in Marignan.

1517: Beginning of Chambord’s construction.

1519: Charles Quint (or Charles the 5^th) is elected emperor of the Holy Roman Germanic Empire.

1520: the land of Beauregard becomes the hunting lodge of Chambord.

1521: Francis the 1^st gives Beauregard to his uncle, the great bastard of Rene Savoy.

1525: Defeat of Pavie, Francis the 1st is taken as a prisoner in Spain.

1545: Jean du Thier, secretary of state buys Beauregard for 2000 pieces of gold.

1547: Advent of Henry the 2^nd.

1554: Order and building of the Bell’s study by Scibec de Carpi.

1559: Advent of Francis the 2^nd and Marie Stuart Queen of Scots.

1560: Conspiracy of Amboise. Advent of Charles the 9^th, regency of Catherine de Medici.

1566: Florimond Robertet financial officer of French kings purchased Beauregard.

1572: (24th august) Saint Barthelme’s massacre of Protestants in Paris.

1574: Advent of Henry the 3^rd.

1579: Beauregard is listed in the book « the most excellent buildings of France » written by Jacques Androuet du Cerceau.

1588: Murder of Henry of Guise and his brother, Louis of Lorraine in the château of Blois.

1589: Murder of Henry the 3^rd by monk Jacques Clement. Advent of Henri the 4^th, from the Bourbon family.

1593: Religious conversion of Henry the 4^th.

1598: Signature of the Edit de Nantes (according safe places to Protestants).

1600: Wedding of Henry the 4^th and Marie de Medici.

1610: Murder of Henry the 4^th by Ravaillac in paris. Advent of Louis the 13^th.

1617: Paul Ardier purchased Beauregard.

1620: Beginning of the layout of the Portraits Gallery.

1624: Richelieu, prime minister.

1626: Richelieu visits Beauregard.

1638: Death of Paul Ardier in Beauregard. His son Paul takes over his father’s work in the gallery.

1642: Mazarin, prime minister.

1643: Advent of Louis the 14^th. Regency of Anne of Austria, his mother.

1655: The Grande Mademoiselle (cousin of Louis the 14^th) visits Beauregard.

1661: Louis the 14th takes the effective power.

1715: Advent of Louis the 15^th.

1774: Advent of Louis the 16^th.

1792: Monarchy ends.

1804: First Empire.

1814: Restoration.

1816: Beauregard is out of the Ardier family property. Purchased by the Viscount of Préval.

1850: Purchase by the Count of Cholet. Restoration by Mr de la Morandière.

1852: Second Empire.

1862: Beauregard is listed as a Historical Monument.

1871: Third Republique.

1912: Purchase of Beauregard by Mr Tillier. Château being modernized.

1925: Purchase of the château by Mrs de Gossellin which her descendants still inhabit.

1986: Beginning of the restoration work of the 327 portraits in the gallery.

1992: The park is registered in the inventory of the Historical Monument.

1992: Gardener Gilles Clément redraws the park inspired by historial drawings. Opening of the Garden portraits

2006: Park of Beauregard is given the label « Remarquable Garden ».

2011: Inauguration of the first international salon of Portraits.

2011: Launch of Beauregard on Facebook.

2012: Beauregard welcomes the exhibition « their dogs » from Antoine Schneck, gathering great pictures of celebrities pets Alphonse Mitterrand, Uma Adjani, Moujick IV Saint Laurent or Loopy Auteuil … dozens of loyal companions are here next to the 327 portraits of famous men and women of history.

2012: Launching of the first International Festival of Animal Portraits

(Français) Du manoir du seigneur Doulcet … au Domaine de la famille Du Pavillon

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Dessin Du Cerceau British Museum BEAUREGARD Vues Est et Ouest

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château de beauregard

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