Richelieu on the Sea Wall of La Rochelle - Henri-Paul Motte

Richelieu on the Sea Wall of La Rochelle

Henri-Paul Motte | 1881

Clad in his cardinal’s scarlet cloak and military armour, Cardinal Richelieu stands upon a formidable sea wall overlooking the harbour of La Rochelle. Beyond him, warships gather beneath a turbulent sky, while the great stone barrier stretches across the water, sealing the fate of the besieged city.

Painted in 1881, Richelieu on the Sea Wall depicts a defining episode of the Siege of La Rochelle in 1627–1628. Determined to break the resistance of the Protestant stronghold, Richelieu ordered the construction of a massive sea wall to prevent English ships from bringing supplies and reinforcements into the harbour. Henri-Paul Motte captures the commanding presence of one of France’s most formidable statesmen, set against the immense scale of a siege that would reshape the balance of power in France.

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