DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61669#0163
JEAN DE DINTEVILLE
Thus the last years of Dinteville’s life glided away.
Notwithstanding his ill-health, he survived all his brothers except
Guillaume, Seigneur Deschenetz, whom he made his heir. Not one of
the family attained the age of sixty.
Gaucher, Seigneur of Vanlay, died in 1550, and was buried at
Thennelieres, where he had resided.
The Bishop of Auxerre departed from the stage of this world in
September, 1554. His death took place at the Chateau of Rbgennes,
his favourite place of abode. It is said that he decorated this house,
and others belonging to the see, with paintings executed by his own
hand; art and mechanics being his most cherished recreations.1
All the brothers had recovered their former prestige before the
end came, and were honoured servants of the king.
The Bailly, obliged by the paralysis which had overtaken him to pass
Lyons, taking Grenoble on the way. When I am at Lyons, you shall have news of me,
and I will send you some seeds for your new garden.
“ My nephew, etc.,
“From Montpellier, 20th February, 1551 (N.S. 1552).
“ Your uncle and friend,
“Duplessys.”
“ To my nephew, M. de Pollisy, Bailly of Troyes.”
1 Le Beuf, “ Memoires concernant 1’histoire ecclesiastique, etc., d’Auxerre,” page 588.
The Bishop had a favourite painter, named Felix Chretien, whom he had raised from the
position of simple chorister to that of canon of the cathedral, on account of his delicacy
of hand in penmanship and painting. Chretien possessed considerable talent, and was
the painter of a large triptych representing the “ Martyrdom of Ste. Eugenie,” which still
hangs in the church of Varzy, in the diocese of Auxerre (Dept, of Nievres), though now
in a terribly dilapidated state. The portrait of the Bishop is introduced amongst a group
in the central panel of this picture. (See illustration, p. 56.) Chretien reproduced the
features of the Bishop a second time, in a smaller work, which is in every way inferior to
the picture at Varzy. This is the “Stoning of St. Stephen,” which now hangs in the north
ambulatory of the Cathedral of Auxerre. The Emperor Louis Napoleon offered a large
sum, without success, for the “ Martyrdom of Ste. Eugenie,” which he wished to purchase
for the Empress. Being unable to obtain the picture, he had a copy made of it. Varzy
is a place which travellers should by no means pass by. The church is of very beautiful
thirteenth-century Gothic, and resembles a small cathedral. The ancient inn was
formerly a religious house, and with its tower and court is strikingly picturesque. The
same family has now owned it for upwards of two hundred years.
137 T
Thus the last years of Dinteville’s life glided away.
Notwithstanding his ill-health, he survived all his brothers except
Guillaume, Seigneur Deschenetz, whom he made his heir. Not one of
the family attained the age of sixty.
Gaucher, Seigneur of Vanlay, died in 1550, and was buried at
Thennelieres, where he had resided.
The Bishop of Auxerre departed from the stage of this world in
September, 1554. His death took place at the Chateau of Rbgennes,
his favourite place of abode. It is said that he decorated this house,
and others belonging to the see, with paintings executed by his own
hand; art and mechanics being his most cherished recreations.1
All the brothers had recovered their former prestige before the
end came, and were honoured servants of the king.
The Bailly, obliged by the paralysis which had overtaken him to pass
Lyons, taking Grenoble on the way. When I am at Lyons, you shall have news of me,
and I will send you some seeds for your new garden.
“ My nephew, etc.,
“From Montpellier, 20th February, 1551 (N.S. 1552).
“ Your uncle and friend,
“Duplessys.”
“ To my nephew, M. de Pollisy, Bailly of Troyes.”
1 Le Beuf, “ Memoires concernant 1’histoire ecclesiastique, etc., d’Auxerre,” page 588.
The Bishop had a favourite painter, named Felix Chretien, whom he had raised from the
position of simple chorister to that of canon of the cathedral, on account of his delicacy
of hand in penmanship and painting. Chretien possessed considerable talent, and was
the painter of a large triptych representing the “ Martyrdom of Ste. Eugenie,” which still
hangs in the church of Varzy, in the diocese of Auxerre (Dept, of Nievres), though now
in a terribly dilapidated state. The portrait of the Bishop is introduced amongst a group
in the central panel of this picture. (See illustration, p. 56.) Chretien reproduced the
features of the Bishop a second time, in a smaller work, which is in every way inferior to
the picture at Varzy. This is the “Stoning of St. Stephen,” which now hangs in the north
ambulatory of the Cathedral of Auxerre. The Emperor Louis Napoleon offered a large
sum, without success, for the “ Martyrdom of Ste. Eugenie,” which he wished to purchase
for the Empress. Being unable to obtain the picture, he had a copy made of it. Varzy
is a place which travellers should by no means pass by. The church is of very beautiful
thirteenth-century Gothic, and resembles a small cathedral. The ancient inn was
formerly a religious house, and with its tower and court is strikingly picturesque. The
same family has now owned it for upwards of two hundred years.
137 T