The Oratory, Clos Luce

When Anne of Brittany’s husband, Charles VIII, was away she preferred to live at Clos Lucé as opposed to Château Amboise. Away from the hustle and bustle of Court it was quiet here. Anne needed quiet to grieve the loss of all her seven children. When Charles died prematurely, Anne, who married at fourteen, was still only twenty-one. As tragedy followed tragedy, she, understandably, became devout. Charles converted the chapel of Saint Blaise (now dedicated to Saint Hubert), the chapel his father started and Charles completed, into a private oratory for her in the grounds of Château Amboise. He also built a private oratory for her in Château Clos Lucé and another in Château Loches. They are all special but the one at Clos Lucé has frescoes painted by Melzi, Leonardo’s faithful pupil who lived with him in Clos Lucé. The Maestro kept him so busy Melzi had no time for his own painting so stayed on here after Leonardo’s death to finish it. Thankfully, all three oratories survived the vandalism of French revolutionaries.

Post by Pamela, photography by Mark.