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addressing the literate upper class in addition to academics and the religious, ultimately helping
to spread Maria de’ Medici’s intended message to the populace of Paris.
The print for Saint-Louis-des-Jésuites was most likely made shortly after the placing of
the first stone in March 1627; the one for Notre-Dame-de-Pitié was made at least a year later in
April 1628. The rarity of such printed material commemorating the placing of the foundation
stone combined with the similarities between the two images leads me to argue that Maria de’
Medici borrowed her son’s method of challenging his adversaries as a means of voicing her own
desires. The queen mother believed she needed to pursue this course of action because of recent
actions by Louis XIII that she felt limited her influence in the kingdom.
In 1627 the king was planning a siege against the Protestant stronghold of La Rochelle, a
port city on the western coast thought to be colluding with England. The expected long duration
of the battle and the city’s distance from Paris necessitated that a regent be named for northern
France during the king’s absence. Fully aware of his mother’s political experience and hoping to
keep her content, Louis XIII appointed Maria de’ Medici to this position shortly before his
departure in September. Although the queen mother was certainly pleased with the authoritative
title, she quickly became jealous over the close relationship that developed between Louis XIII
and Richelieu, both of whom were at the siege. 93 Maria feared that the cardinal’s influence
would come to dominate the king, lessening the impact of her own opinions. The anxiety of
losing her central standing as the closest advisor to the king made her dissatisfied with the post
of regent.
Adding to the queen mother’s concerns was the treatment of the Protestant problem at La
Rochelle. Louis XIII and Richelieu regarded the uprising as a crime against the state, leading
them to revoke any political rights held by the Protestants but to allow the continued practice of
religious freedom. 94 The official policy was not welcomed by Maria de’ Medici and the dévots,
who wished for the eradication of the heretical faith and the consolidation of Europe under
Catholicism. 95 With the siege at La Rochelle, Maria realized that her political goals were rarely
followed when they differed from those of the king, the queen mother found the honorary title of
regent of northern France to offer few opportunities to wield significant power within the state. 96
Once again in an effort to assert her authority, Maria de’ Medici turned to her role as a
patron of ecclesiastical architecture. Similar to her experience with the Filles du Calvaire, the
queen mother believed that Louis XIII was attempting to limit her influence, prompting her to
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