'Richelieu'

Photograph of a painting by Paul Delaroche, created in 1829 and now in the Wallace Collection (Inv. no. P320).The work is based on a scene from Alfred de Vingy’s (1797-1863) novel Cinq-Mars, describing the way Cardinal Richelieu escorted two conspirators to Lyon for their execution. Two barges dominate the painting that move to the right, supposedly on the river Rhône. Richelieu is seated in an armchair under a canopy of the leading barge, whilst the prisoners are carried by the following barge. Numerous guards, musketeers and oarsmen can be seen aboard both vessels.