King Henry IV receives the Prime Minister Sully

The tapestry entitled King Henry IV receives the Prime Minister Sully is made of wool and silk, adopting as a model the – unfortunately lost – one by Fedele Fischetti. It bears the inscription "Duranti, Napoli 1791", which certifies the production factory and the date of execution.

The setting that forms the backdrop to the scene represents the royal apartment of Henry IV. You can appreciate details such as the magnificent architecture adorned with statues, the worked floor and a noble balcony enriched with crimson curtains. Among the latter, one can see a full-figure representation of Hercules, placed in a niche, and a bust placed on a pedestal. The bust is located between a chair and a painting that portrays Jupiter in the act of chasing away the Titans: an emblematic homage to the deeds of Henry IV, ancestor of Ferdinand IV of Bourbon.

It is in this sumptuous palace that Henry IV receives Maximilien Sully, kneeling before him as three royal guards arrive.

This is the central scene of the work, which emphasizes the pivotal role that the minister played during the religious wars that raged in France. It is said, in fact, that the Calvinist Sully – after having escaped the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre – in 1593 became a trustee of Henry IV, suggesting that the sovereign convert to Catholicism to become king of France and bring peace throughout the kingdom.

Subsequently, Sully was first appointed member of the Finance Council, then minister, promoting numerous and significant reforms.