The Alchemy Key.pdf - Veritas File System

St Sulpice’s meridienne is special for three reasons. Firstly, the
eminent English astronomer, Henry Sully (1680-1728), installed it in
1727. Henry, who lies in St Sulpice, spent most of his life on the
Continent. From 1718 he worked under the protection of the Philippe II,
Duc d'Orléans (1674-1723). Philippe came to power in 1715 as Régent
de France, because Louis XV was in his minority.
Henry Sully played a major role in solving the problem of
longitude. Historians regard his 1724 timepiece C as one of the twelve
most important marine timekeepers in the quest for longitude. It predated
John Harrison’s first attempt by 11 years.
Secondly, the St Sulpice meridienne is important because French
astronomers adjusted it in 1744, about the same time Lord Anson was
beginning Shugborough Hall.
Finally, the church of St Sulpice received exceptional artistic
endowments in the century following the installation of its meridienne.
The Abbey of St Germain des Pres established St Sulpice as a peasant
church. In 1732, the authorities decided to remodel it and advertised an
architectural design contest. Florentine architect Servandoni won the
contest with a proposal to change the Graeco-Roman façade to fine
Antique style. Although Servandoni’s designs were adopted, they were
extensively modified by Maclaurin and then by Chalgrin. Twenty artists
worked on the interior murals and the genius of Bouchardon, Pigalle and
Delacroix excelled their work.
The Eugène Delacroix Romantic murals from 1849 to 1861
astound us. As with Henry Sully, Delacroix was supported by a Duc
d'Orléans, Louis Philippe (1773-1850). The French crowned him king
after the 1830 July Revolution. On the vaulting of the first chapel on the
right, Delacroix painted St Michael killing the dragon. St Michael is the
patron saint of Israel and England. On the right wall, Delacroix painted
angels driving Heliodorus, the King of Syria’s minister, from the Temple.
The angels struck him down for coveting the Temple’s treasures. One of
the angels is on horseback, like a Knight Templar. On the left wall,
Delacroix painted Jacob struggling with the Angel of God.
Both the Bourbon and its cadet d'Orléans dynasties were closely
associated with Knights Templar succession. Philippe II, Duc d'Orléans
(1674-1723) signed the famous Larmenius Charter of Transmission in
1705 as Grand Master. 1431 Louis Bourbon of Maine succeeded him in
1724, followed by Louis de Bourbon-Condé in 1737 and Louis François
Bourbon-Conty in 1741.
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