1 / 3
Live
Premium A selection by: Maître Frank THELOT
[RELIGIOSA] - RICHELIEU (Armand Jean Duplessis, Bishop of Lu…
See original version (French)
[RELIGIOSA] - RICHELIEU (Armand Jean Duplessis, Bishop of Lu…
See original version (French)
Lot no. 22
[RELIGIOSA] - RICHELIEU (Armand Jean Duplessis, Bishop of Luçon) - Les principaux poincts de la foy de l'église catholique. Défendus contre l'éscrit addressé au Roy par les quatre Ministres de Charenton - Poitiers ; Antoine Mesnier, 1617 - 1 volume small In-4° (22,80x 16,50 cm) - [3] blank leaves, [6] leaves, 262 pages with a few numbering errors, [3] blank leaves - Pinhead worm hole in the upper corner of the first 67 leaves, small lack in the upper margin of the leaf on pages 169-170, yellowed paper - Contemporary tan calf binding (1st jaw badly restored, split, 2nd restored, corners worn, some rubbing and scuffing to boards) - Double fillet around boards - Spine ribbed and decorated with 3 fleurons and titled in gold (headpieces poorly restored and eliminated, endpapers and endpapers redone in the 19th century) - Edges speckled with red - Label on the 1st opposite board with the words: "Cum consummaverit homo, tunc incipiet" - Very rare first edition of 1 of the first writings of Cardinal de Richelieu after the Harangue delivered in the Salle du Petit-Bourbon on 23 February 1615.
The author, Bishop of Luçon, after briefly holding a position of power with Marie de Médicis, fell into disgrace in April 1617 following the assassination of Marshal d'Ancre by Louis XIII's men. He then withdrew to his diocese, in a sort of exile, where he spent time surrounded by his books.
Towards the middle of 1617, Father Arnoux, the King's confessor, reignited religious tensions by accusing Protestants of not knowing the Bible. The Protestant pastors reacted strongly, and 4 of them - Montigni, Durand, du Mounin and Mestrezat, all ministers at Charenton - published 1 brochure entitled Défense de la confession de foi des Églises réformées de France contre les accusations du sieur Arnauld, jésuite. Richelieu took this opportunity to write 1 book in response, mixing political and religious reflections, in the hope of regaining the king's favour. His work, Les Principaux poincts de la foy de l'Eglise catholique, is characterised by its calm, respectful tone and openness to dialogue. The style is refined and fluid, making often complicated subjects easier to understand. This contrasts sharply with the often violent and poorly-written writings exchanged by the extreme partisans of both camps. Even if Richelieu maintains a polite and calm tone, his arguments are solid and very rigorous. This text already gives an idea of the style and method of the man who was to become, in the eyes of many at the time, "one of the greatest men in the world, a great politician and a fervent defender of religion".
Reference: Brunet, IV, 1292 (who only cites later editions).
Provenance: Dominique Moreau Library
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits:
Contact organization
Delivery methods
You may also like