The Saint-Germain-en-Laye chapel paintings
Louis XIV was born in 1638 at the old château of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Completing the decoration of the chapel was therefore essential. Poussin, who was called back to Paris between 1640 and 1642, carried out the painting of the high altar. Stella was commissioned to paint the side altars. The generosity of the royal couple – Louis XIII and Anne of Austria – is depicted symbolically in the traits of their respective patron saints, Saint Louis and Saint Anne. Sainte Anne conduisant la Vierge au temple (Saint Anne Taking the Virgin to the Temple) is one of the most perfect examples of what has been called Parisian atticism: this cold, bright and refined style of painting, against a backdrop of ancient columns.
A second pair La Vierge donnant la bouillie à l'Enfant Jésus (The Virgin feeding the Christ Child) and Le Christ mort sur les genoux de la Vierge (Christ lying dead on the Virgin's lap) are taken from the sacristy of the same chapel.
In these small-scale devotional paintings, Stella marks a return to the models of Raphael, in the style of his contemporary Lubin Baugin (around 1610-1663).
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