Oratory, polychrome wood prayer desk, Motte-Picquet family, Brittany, 18th century
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Rare oratory prie-dieu in polychrome and gilded wood, decorated in the upper part with small columns framing a painting representing Christ in prayer before an angel; in the lower part, the coat of arms of the family of Admiral de la Motte-Picquet*, provenance of the family: property of the Château de Coutances in Taden in Brittany (Côtes d'Armor), from the 18th century.
This oratory is made of wood in good general condition and is of exceptional quality.
It presents the coat of arms of the de la Motte-Picquet family, famous for the Admiral of the same name (azure coat of arms, with 3 gold chevrons, accompanied by 3 silver spearheads) as well as the Arms of Brittany (ermines).
Furthermore, it comes from the family property in the commune of Taden (Côtes d'Armor), where Marguerite-Marie Picquet de la Motte, the Admiral's aunt, owned property (handwritten label on the back of the pediment explaining the provenance by the heirs). Biographical details below.
Please note: some accidents and lack of polychromy in places, cracks and wear of time on the painting, wear of time, look carefully at the photos.
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Born on November 1, 1720 in Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine) and died on June 10, 1791 in Brest (Finistère), he was a French naval officer of the 18th century. During a career spanning more than fifty years, under the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI, he took part in 34 campaigns, notably during the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence. Respected and feared by his adversaries, he did not hesitate to engage in combat with much inferior forces. Commander (1780), then Grand Cross of the Order of Saint-Louis (1784), he died at the beginning of the French Revolution.
Surgeon, ophthalmologist, daughter of the chief clerk of the Parliament of Brittany. Married to Count Claude Toussaint Marot de La Garaye, both charitable husbands. She is the aunt of Admiral Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de La Motte.
They lived in the lap of luxury at the Château de la Garaye (16th century, listed as a historic monument), in the parish of Taden, two kilometers north of Dinan. In 1710, the sudden death of the husband of Madame de Pontbriand, the Count's sister, devastated them. Abandoning social life, they decided to serve the poor for the love of God. The château was transformed into a hospital to welcome, feed, and care for the poor. They sold their possessions to finance their work and set to work with their servants. The de la Motte-Picquet family owned another château (Coutances manor) in the commune of Taden.