RAPINE GAIGNERES COLLEGIALE ENGRAVING OF NOTRE DAME DE NANTES INTERIOR CHAPEL SAINT THOMAS XVI CENTURY MARIONNEAU CHARDON SARAZIN W186BRETAGNE ARTISTICERapine Maximilien 1840-1905, etching and softcut engraver.He began to make typographic engraving on copper Saint-Thomas ChapelThe Saint-Thomas Chapel was built from 1514 to 1524 under the leadership of the Bishop of Dol Thomas II Le Roy. After the latter's death, his heart is transferred to the building that bears his name. This chapel was not completed until 1644. The interior of the Saint-Thomas chapel, transformed into a forge at the beginning of the 19th century. It escaped destruction following the opening of the “Place Notre-Dame” in 1831 , and knows an independent history of the church in which she was included. It serves primarily as the city's coffin deposit8. In 1836, Prosper Mérimée, visiting the West, noted its state of disrepair, and, certain of the architectural value of the building, he wrote to the prefect of Loire-Inferieure and to the municipal council that "it is pity to see such an interesting ruin neglected in this way »The chapel is one of only three buildings in Nantes to have caught the attention of Mérimée, along with the castle and the cathedral. Then the building is used as a store for an organ builder , and as a blacksmith's workshop. In 1865, Arthur Le Moyne de La Borderie, under the pseudonym of Louis de Kerjean, asked to postpone the planned destruction of the chapel26. Ange Guépin submits to the municipal council a proposal from Louis Cailleau (1823-1890), known as Brother Louis, director of the institution for deaf children of La Persagotière, to rebuild the Saint-Thomas chapel in his establishment. The solution is not adopted. On August 7, 1866, the city architect established the estimate for two operations: the reconstruction of the chapel in the La Bouteillerie cemetery, or the handing over to the Nantes Archaeological Society of all the sculpted stones. The municipal council follows the recommendation of the rapporteur of the commission responsible for studying this case, Louis Mathurin Babin-Chevaye, who, arguing that the chapel is in ruins and that the cost of reconstruction is too high, proposes destruction. The chapel of Saint-Thomas was destroyed in 1866, some architectural elements being preserved to build an interior porch of the chapel of the Oratory. Currently, the remaining elements of the chapel are kept (but not exhibited) at the Dobrée museum. condition, let us note small oxidation stains, halos, pitting, slight wrinkling of handling, traces of folds in places, small lack, micro - tear .... Our numerous photos allow you to appreciate the quality of the engraving. For the condition thank you for detailing the photos.The photos are an integral part of the description.Dimensions of the engraving: Height: 13.3 cmLength: 19.8 cmTotal dimensions: Height: 20 cmLength: 28 cm I remain at your disposal for any questions.