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Description

Portrait of the French abbot Jean de Brétigny (1556-1634) bears a coat of arms upper left with Latin text attached to the reverse oil on canvas, unframed 60.5 x 53 cm

Footnote: The lengthy Latin inscription on the reverse of the canvas would seem to say: "The Venerable Priest Jean de Quintanadoine, temporal lord of Brétigny, St-Denis de Boisgirard, and St-Léonard . Born of a noble line in Rouen in France, he was a man simple and humble of heart, without guile, truly a father of the poor, assiduous in speaking, reflection, reading and action. He was a man of perfect chastity, whole in his faith, distinguished in his love for God and for his neighbour. He was outstanding for his efforts in the promotion of Christian piety by the translation of the books of St Teresa from Spanish into French. He undertook the introduction into France of her own barefoot Carmelite order, and there he built, largely at his own expense, several monasteries. Indefatigable both in deeds and commitment, he endowed them, enlarged them, and showed them his devotion by building or by his counsel governing and administering them. He was first prominent in the Netherlands as Superior of the same. At length, consumed by age, his many travels, and cares for the said Order, and by the endless labours he had undertaken, full of good days, at Rouen he gave up his soul to God on the 8 th of June/July in the year 1634 in the 79 th year of his age." We are grateful to Alan Chamberlain for translating the above.

Condition report: Oil on canvas which is unlined. The canvas has general undulations and few concave deformations. The paint layer has suffered from extensive losses in the background. There are some retouchings covering old damages. The surface is very matte and uneven with a layer of surface dirt present.

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