Richelieu on the Sea Wall of La Rochelle | Henri-Paul Motte | 1881 Select Size:40" x 30" a swarm of black birds

a swarm of black birds fills the sky

inviting the viewer to reflect on the passage of time and the layered presence of history in everyday surroundings

completed in 1890

set in a modestly decorated room illuminated by the soft glow of candles on a small Christmas tree

This monumental work continues to captivate viewers with its grandeur and its portrayal of the eternal struggle between good and evil

Richelieu on the Sea Wall of La Rochelle | Henri-Paul Motte | 1881 Select Size:40" x 30" a swarm of black birdsAbout the artwork: Richelieu on the Sea Wall of La Rochelle (1881) by Henri Paul Motte is a striking historical painting that dramatizes Cardinal Richelieus siege of the Huguenot stronghold of La Rochelle in 16271628. The composition places Richelieu, clad in brilliant red robes, atop an immense sea wall constructed to block English aid to the Protestant citya monumental feat of engineering and political will. Surrounded by soldiers and cold gray