DERUET, Claude

This allegory depicts twelve noblewomen seated in a garden, each holding an arrow.

This impressive equestrian portrait glorifies the spirit of resistance of Alberte-Barbe d’Ernecourt (1606-1660), wife of Jean-Jacques de Haraucourt, lord of Saint-Baslemont. The couple lived in the castle of Neuville-en-Verdunois until the departure of Haraucourt for the war, alongside the Duke of Lorraine, Charles IV, in 1632.

After the extension of the Thirty Years War to the whole of Europe, Madame de Saint-Baslemont trains the inhabitants of the surrounding villages in combat and opposes the attempts of looting and exaction carried out by the armies and bands of mercenaries crossing the Neuville area. Pursuits of cattle thieves, release of hostages, rescue operations for soldiers in danger, this are the among the episodes the painter represents in the form of sketches, in the background of his painting.

Deruet was for many years official painter to the Duke of Lorraine and director of his court festivities. he is an interesting phenomenon in that he went on working till his death in 1660 in a style that was already out of date by nearly thirty years.

The present painting is part of a series representing the Four Elements (Air, Earth, Fire, Water). They were painted for the cardinal’s château at Richelieu near Orl�ans some time before 1642 (in which year the cardinal died). The emphasis of the four canvasses is entirely decorative. The Element of Fire is particularly dramatic, and depicts one of the elaborate firework displays popular at the time. The Elements conform very closely to the aesthetic spirit of the last years of the reign of Louis XIII who died in 1643.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 18 minutes):

Handel: Fireworks Music

The painting is part of a series representing the Four Elements (Air, Earth, Fire, Water). They were painted for the cardinal’s château at Richelieu near Orl�ans some time before 1642 (in which year the cardinal died). The emphasis of the four canvasses is entirely decorative. The Element of Fire is particularly dramatic, and depicts one of the elaborate firework displays popular at the time. The Elements conform very closely to the aesthetic spirit of the last years of the reign of Louis XIII who died in 1643.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 18 minutes):

Handel: Fireworks Music

Deruet was a prolific and highly successful painter, working for each of the warring courts of Lorraine and France, and hi would have employed a large studio of assistants. This picture, painted on a thin octagonal copper plate, could be a work of an artist who worked with him, or for him in his large and busy studio.