Nantes, the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany (cont.) - The City's History Museum - The 11th of January 2014 (morning)

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Housed in the Ducal Palace of the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, the collections of the City's Museum of History comprising 850 objects were displayed chronologically and thematically in 32 rooms.

Amongst those I decided to photograph a few varied artefacts pertaining to several epochs and related to different historic and social issues.

Graffiti left by prisoners (left)

Porticos dedicated to the God Vulcan for the safety of the port inhabitants.

Limestone inscription dating back to the 2nd century A.D. found in 1305 (left)

Film based on the life of Anne of Brittany being exhibited in one of the rooms (left). Anne de Bretagne, la bonne Duchesse by Alfred Caravaniez (1855-1917) portraying the well known image of Anne holding an open book, which has been commonly associated to the fact that she often encouraged intellectual and artistic activities.

15th century sculpted monster belonging to a series of "bestiaires" found in the Castle.

Grotesque stone figures dating back to the 18th century (sculpted by Jean Baptiste Ceineray).

"The edges of the Loire with the Pirmil bridge" (left) by Charles Leduc (1831-1911) and "The mouth of the Loire river in Sainte Nazaire" (right) by the same painter.

The female presence on board in decorative terms, once it was strongly believed women on board of ships could only bring unhappiness and disaster in the sea. Ship fragments dating back to the 18th century

18th century ship fragment representing Saint George brandishing his piercing sword.

A 17th century statue representing the Patron Saint of the sailors (left). Navigation instruments dating back to the 18th century (right).

 A scales to weigh gold

Several artefacts connected to the slave trade and slavery, amongst which The black Code dating back to th1685, several drawings and official documents attesting the slaves' life, as well as a few artistic objects related to the commercial goods obtained at that particular epoch.

An 18th century wooden Pieta (left) and a detail from a painting by Auguste-Hyacinthe Debay (1804-1865) "An execution in Nantes in 1793" representing the sisters Gabrielle, Margeritte, Claire and Olympe Millo, as well as their maid, who were publicly executed in Place du Bouffay (right).

"La Bretogne" by Hippolyte Berteaux (1843-1928) representing the portrait of the ideal young Bretogne with her eyes looking up in a Virgin-like attitude.

(To be continued)