A fundraising appeal to restore the Invalides refectory

30/4/26 - Mécénat, souscription - Paris, Musée de l’Armée - Veterans, wounded soldiers, and sick servicemen who were treated at the Hôtel des Invalides — founded in 1670 — had before their eyes battles in which a number of them had taken part: one of the four refectories, known as the Salle de l’Europe, is still decorated today with wall paintings attributed to Michel Corneille the Younger, which depict the victories of the War of the Dutch Republic between 1673 and 1675, notably the capture of the towns of Maestricht (sic) in June 1673 (ill. 1), Huy and Limbourg in June 1675 (ill. 2), and several other successes of the great Louis XIV, who appears on another wall accompanied by Bellona, Minerva and Victory, making his way towards the Meuse, which already seems subdued (ill. 3).