The portrait gallery of Angers Castle

The castle’s architecture and collections bring the faces of men and women from the past back to life.

By Castle of Angers

Angers Castle

Vitrail dit du roi René, détail de la Vierge by AnonymeCastle of Angers

The Virgin Mary, detail of the stained glass window of King René (15th century) in the castle’s chapel.

Vitrail dit du roi René, détail de Jeanne de Laval en prière by AnonymeCastle of Angers

Jeanne de Laval (1433-1498), the second wife of King René. Detail of “King René’s window” (15th century) in the castle’s chapel. Here, Jeanne de Laval is shown at prayer, accompanied by a dog.

Vitrail dit du roi René, détail de René en prière by AnonymeCastle of Angers

King René, detail of the stained glass window (15th century) depicting him in the chapel. René (1409-1480) is shown kneeling in prayer. He is dressed as a huntsman with his spear and his hunting horn.

Sculpture d'un rampant de pignon by AnonymeCastle of Angers

Sculpture representing a tonsured monk wearing a habit belted with a cord and holding a book.It stands on top of a dormer window on the southern façade of the royal apartment block.

Le bavard by AnonymeCastle of Angers

Sculpted frieze on the staircase of the castle’s royal apartment block showing a man wearing a headdress. Plant tendrils emerge from his mouth, whence its nickname of “the chatterbox”.

Culot en forme de visage d'homme by AnonymeCastle of Angers

Sculpted decoration showing the face of a hairy man, situated beneath a vault on the ground floor of the field gatehouse.

Culot en forme de tête de femme by AnonymeCastle of Angers

Sculpted decoration showing the face of a woman wearing a headdress, situated beneath a vault on the ground floor of the field gatehouse.

Dieu en majesté, détail du visage d'un des vingt-quatre vieillardsCastle of Angers

Bust of an old man wearing a crown. Detail of scene 4 of the first section of the Tapestry of the Apocalypse: “God in majesty”, holding a lily. Photograph on the reverse.

Les larmes de saint Jean, détail du visage du vieillardCastle of Angers

Face of a bearded old man wearing a green headdress. Detail of scene 6 of the first section of the Tapestry of the Apocalypse: “The tears of Saint John”. Photograph on the reverse.

Deuxième trompette : le naufrage, détail du visage de saint JeanCastle of Angers

Saint John wipes his face with the lining of his red robe. Detail of scene 21 of the second section of the Tapestry of the Apocalypse: “The second trump: the shipwreck”. Photograph on the reverse.

L'ange au livre, détail de la tête de saint JeanCastle of Angers

Head of Saint John, looking upwards, against a red background. Detail of scene 27 of the second section of the Tapestry of the Apocalypse: “The angel with the book”. Photograph on the reverse.

Quatrième sceau : le cheval livide et la Mort, détail du cavalier à tête de mortCastle of Angers

The rider with a skull for a head, detail of scene 12 of the first section of the Tapestry of the Apocalypse: “Fourth seal: the white horse and Death”. Photograph on the reverse.

Les myriades de cavaliers, détail de la tête de deux soldatsCastle of Angers

Faces of two soldiers, one wearing an orange turban to match his tunic. Detail of scene 26 of the second section of the Tapestry of the Apocalypse: “The myriads of horsemen”. Photograph on the reverse.

Les myriades de cavaliers, détail de la figure centrale et d'un soldatCastle of Angers

The central figure of the scene, a soldier wearing a helmet surmounted by an ostrich feather and holding a spear. Detail of scene 26 of the second section: “The myriads of horsemen”. Photograph on the reverse.

The central figure in the scene. This horseman is sometimes identified as the Black Prince, the son and heir of Edward III, King of England and enemy of the King of France during the Hundred Years War.

Troisième trompette : l'absinthe, détail de deux hommes empoisonnésCastle of Angers

A man collapsed on the ground. Detail of scene 22 of the second section of the Tapestry of the Apocalypse: “The third trump: absinthe”. Photograph on the reverse.

Saint Jean mange le livre, détail de la tête du saint. (1375/1382)Castle of Angers

Saint John eating the book. Detail of scene 28 of the second section of the Tapestry of the Apocalypse: “Saint John eating the book”. Photograph on the reverse.

Credits: Story

This virtual exhibition has been put together by teams from the Centre des monuments nationaux, with the help of teams from the Château d'Angers, the support of teams from the images unit and coordination by the digital unit.

The images were taken from Regards - Banque d’images des monuments © Centre des monuments nationaux.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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