Richter, Louise M.: Chantilly in history and art (London: Murray, 1913)

PREFACE

My first visit to Chantilly was in April 1904, when
the Exhibition of the French Primitives at the
Pavilion Marsan, following close on that at Bruges,
raised interest and comment far outside the
boundaries of France. I visited the Musde Conde
with the intention of studying some more examples
of the French fifteenth- and sixteenth-century art
which had so much attracted me in Paris.
The high expectations I had conceived were not
disappointed, and the result was that my studies in
that marvellous collection were prolonged. Weeks
grew into months. The Limbourgs, Jean Fouquet,
and the Clouets held me in their spell; the Chateau
of Chantilly, with the history of its famous owners,
aroused my interest more and more.
Through the great courtesy of the late M. Anatol
Gruyer and of M. Gustave Macon, Directors of
the Musee Cond£, I was given access to all the
art-treasures within its walls and I was allowed to
while away my time with the famous miniatures
and drawings and with the pictures in which I was
so much interested. Tranquil and undisturbed,
often quite alone, meeting now and then only the
furtive glance of one or other of the Museum
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