Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Maison des Vertus cardinales is a civilian residence located in Saint-Menoux, in the Allier department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Built in the 4th quarter of the 17th century (circa 1694 according to the sources), it is distinguished by its facade adorned with a door surmounted by a tympanum carved in bas-relief. The latter, of exceptional quality, represents four allegorical female figures of cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance and strength. The building is closely linked to local history, possibly belonging to the Benedictine convent of the commune, where the Marquise of Montespan was still staying in 1700.

Ranked historic monument by decree of 7 November 2000, only the door with its carved tympanum enjoys official protection (cadastral reference B 833). The house is now owned by the commune of Saint-Menoux. Its exact address, 3 Impasse de la Poste, and its current state (open to the public, use) are not specified in the available sources. The tympanum, a central element of its heritage value, illustrates the influence of religious and allegorical art in bourbonese civil architecture of the time.

The historical context of Saint-Menoux in the seventeenth century is marked by the presence of the Benedictine priory, founded in the eleventh century and a place of pilgrimage known for its relics. The house of Cardinal Vertus is part of this monastic landscape, reflecting both the religious patronage and the know-how of local artisans. Its tympanum, by its moral iconography, recalls the Christian values promoted by the Church in the France of Ancien Régime. The sources also mention a link with Madame de Montespan, the favorite of Louis XIV, whose passage in 1700 underlines the importance of the convent in the networks of influence of the aristocracy.

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