Part 14 (1/2)
_Abbe._--A black hat, with a cord on each side, from which hang two rows of black ta.s.sels.
[Ill.u.s.tration: BOOK-PLATE OF H. CHABEUF, OF DIJON.]
As a matter of fact, the distinction between the hats of archbishops and of bishops appears not to have been generally observed, as we find on the book-plates of most of the bishops that they carried four rows of ta.s.sels, that is, ten ta.s.sels on each side of their s.h.i.+elds. Menestrier admits that the number of ta.s.sels is immaterial, but he lays stress on the colour: ”Les chapeaux sont rouges pour les Cardinaux, verts pour les Archeveques et Eveques, noirs pour les Protonotaires, et autres dignitez au dessoux des Eveques.” These colours are shown in the usual heraldic manner.
[Ill.u.s.tration: BOOK-PLATE OF L. B. BARBIER.]
Here are a few examples of clerical plates. _Caumartin_, a bishop, after whom they have named a street in Paris; _Chabeuf_, a modern bishop of Dijon; _Barbier_, an abbot; and _J. F. Seguret_, a canon of the cathedral church of Alais. The last is an old plate, and is remarkable because it contains no ecclesiastical emblems, the arms and supporters being purely heraldic. The same remarks apply to the plate of the Abbe Quarre de Monay, Canon of Autun, which is dated 1776, and is a characteristic specimen of the plate of the period. Observe the large coronet, the oval s.h.i.+eld in a cartouche, the heavy pendent festoons, and the solid square base, all distinctive features of the style Louis XVI.
(See reproduction, page 188.)
[Ill.u.s.tration: BOOK-PLATE OF CANON SEGURET.]
The plate of Dominique-Barnabe Turgot de Saint Clair, bishop of Seez, dated 1716, is a good example of the ecclesiastical plate of the period, in which the mundane coronet is as conspicuous as the bishop's hat.
Bishop Turgot died on December 18th, 1727, leaving a valuable library, which was sold in Paris in 1730.
The ex-libris of the library of the college of Eu, founded by the Duc de Maine in 1729, may be inserted here, as belonging to an educational establishment. It must be confessed that the plate has a very warlike appearance, for it carries the arms of the founder of the college, Louis Auguste de Bourbon, Duc de Maine, who was Captain-General of the Artillery, hence the warlike devices which surround the pedestal. Being a Bourbon, his arms were France, debruised by a baton.
[Ill.u.s.tration: BOOK-PLATE OF BISHOP BARNABAS TURGOT.]
The plate is an interesting example of the artistic regularity which marks the early period of Louis XV. (See next page.)
[Ill.u.s.tration: BOOK-PLATE OF THE COLLEGE OF EU.]
The armorial plate of the Abbe de Bourbon-Rothelin shows by its inescutcheon, and its supporters, that the owner was a descendant of the royal house of Bourbon. Charles d'Orleans, Abbe de Rothelin, a son of Henri d'Orleans, Marquis de Rothelin, was born August 5, 1691, and died July 17, 1744. He was an ardent collector of medals, books, and ma.n.u.scripts, and was esteemed one of the most learned men of his day. At his death, his library, which was especially rich in early theological works, was sold and dispersed, but his collection of medals was acquired entire for the museum of the Escurial. (See reproduction, page 187.)
[Ill.u.s.tration: BOOK-PLATE OF M. LE CURe DUBUT.]
The arms, stamped on the sides of the books bound for him resembled those on his ex-libris, but without the columns in the background.
[Ill.u.s.tration: BOOK-PLATE OF THE ABBe DE GRICOURT, 1750.]
A very large ecclesiastical plate is that of Franciscus Trista.n.u.s de Cambon: Episcopus Mirapiscensis. This plate is in the best style of the early period of Louis XVI., and is signed _J. Mercadier. Inv. et sculp._ The s.h.i.+eld is surmounted by the coronet of a count, over which is the bishop's hat.
The plate of Archambault is a handsome specimen of the work of Sergent, signed ”Sergent scul. Carnuti.” The date is very faint, but appears to be 1773.
[Ill.u.s.tration: BOOK-PLATE OF D'ARCHAMBAULT.]
”Affaires du Clerge” on the open book, the tables with the commandments, the mitre and crozier, sufficiently indicate that the owner of the plate was connected with the Church.
[Ill.u.s.tration: BOOK-PLATES OF J. A. LE MERCIER.]
_Des Livres de M. Dubut_ is the t.i.tle of the pretentious book-plate of the Cure de Viroflay, signed Le Roy, and dated 1782.
Here we have the arms of this pious son of the Church going straight to Paradise on a thunder-cloud, under the protection of two rather mundane-looking ladies. The world, the flesh, and--but no--the cross of St. Louis in the background prevents the completion of the trio. (See page 181.)
In a somewhat similar style of thunder-cloud decoration is the dated plate of the Abbe de Gricourt, already referred to.
[Ill.u.s.tration: BOOK-PLATE OF THE REV. FATHER INGOLD.]