Poussin and a secret pertaining to France ...

Many researchers discuss the possibility of Poussin being involved in a 'secret pertaining to France'. I have often said that there is no direct evidence of Poussin being in possession of secret information relating to Rennes, that the evidence was more circumstantial. That is, the evidence i cite depends on belonging to, consisting in, or is dependent on the circumtances around Poussin at the time.

“Through a simultaneity of events, it appears that a plan was concocted slowly around the secret held by our painter.”

Our friends at the following website and page: http://www.lemercuredegaillon.net/gaillon27/poussin_enigme.htm have no such reservations and appear to claim that indeed Poussin was directly involved in a 'plan that was concotted' between himself and various others around him and that it does relate to Rennes-le-Chateau directly.

The autors write: "Through a simultaneity of events, it appears that a plan was concocted slowly around the secret held by our painter. In the years 1615-1616, Vincent de Paul, known [for his connections to ND Marceille near Limoux], was treasurer of the college church in the village of Ecouis .....and the stronghold of the family in Marigny of Philippe le Bel.The village is located about ten kilometers from Andelys where Poussin lived at the same time, diligent student in the school of painting of Jouvenet in Rouen. At this time also involved [was] Mgr François de Joyeuse, [owner] of the barony of Arques in Aude. He was then archbishop of Rouen. Vincent de Paul, Poussin and F. de Joyeuse [paths] cross, and they worked with each other, between 1615 and 1616 in Normandy. It is unclear whether the talented Nicolas Poussin came into contact with Francis Joyeuse. We can assume he had knowledge of certain disclosures about 1615 and began to hide [that knowledge] in some of his works".

The authors further write: "A supposition supported by a written record of Thomas Corneille [Corneille, strangely enough, is referred to by Cherisey in his novel CIRCUIT], brother of Peter, who spent much of his life in Andelys. Thomas wrote in his Universal Dictionary, Geography and History that the departure [of Poussin from Andelys/Rouen] was precipitated by "a case that came with it and some feared prosecution [which] would have embarrassed him [Poussin] had he not left Paris and his country. In 1618, he [Poussin] arrived in the capital, then he went to Rome  1620/1621, perhaps feeling more free in his movements".

The authors seem to go on to suggest that a person called Nicolas Poussin was chaplain to the Sainte-Catherine chapel of the church of Gisors in 1618. For the record, this chapel is one of the most  important milestones of the case of the "Treasure of Gisors" unearthed by R. Lhomoy and G. de Sede. This N.Poussin is presumed dead by 22nd July 1618. The authors wonder if there is a correlation between the two Poussin's (indeed are they one and the same Poussin?), the scandal attached to Poussin in Normandy around this time, and the sudden disappearance of the celebrated Poussin for his 'survival'. Was he assisted by the Church or others for that 'survival'? 

The authors move on to Robert Denyau, a historian of Gisors. They mention a particular note which refers to one of the works of R. Denyau: Calendarium martyrologii regalis sanctoralis principum. Also, Denyau makes a reference to a Poussin in perhaps a derogatory manner. Are these events indicating a back picture in some obscure way?

I will have more to say on these assertions - but this will appear as an article on this site soon.