Michel Amelot de Gournay facts for kids
Michel-Jean Amelot, baron de Brunelles, marquis de Gournay (1655—Paris 1724) was an important French diplomat. He worked as an advisor to King Louis XIV of France starting in 1698. He was also known as a connoisseur, meaning someone who knows a lot about art and fine things.
Michel-Jean Amelot was the son of Charles Amelot, who was a high-ranking judge. His uncle, also named Michel Amelot de Gournay, was an Archbishop of Tours.
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A Life in Diplomacy
Michel-Jean Amelot had a long and successful career representing France in other countries.
Ambassador to Venice
In 1682, he became the ambassador to Venice, a famous city in Italy. He brought his teacher, Roger de Piles, with him as his secretary. Roger de Piles was also an expert in art.
Other Important Roles
Amelot's work in Venice was very successful. Because of this, he was given more important jobs:
- He went to Portugal in 1685.
- He worked in Switzerland from 1688 to 1698.
- He served in Spain from 1705 to 1709.
While in Spain, he played a big part during the War of the Spanish Succession. He helped to reorganize the Spanish army, making it more like the French army.
Peace Talks and Agreements
After the Treaty of Utrecht was signed, Michel-Jean Amelot helped settle disagreements between different rulers. He led meetings to sort out problems between Victor Amadeus II, who became the new King of Sicily, and the Prince of Monaco. They signed an agreement in Paris on June 21, 1714. A famous poet and diplomat from Great Britain, Matthew Prior, was also there.
Business and Knowledge
In 1716, Amelot was made the head of the Council of Commerce. This council dealt with trade and business. A very important book about trade, called Dictionnnaire universel de commerce (published in 1723), was dedicated to him. This book was written by Jacques Savary des Brûlons.
The Hôtel Amelot de Gournay
In 1713, Michel-Jean Amelot bought a grand house in Paris called the Hôtel Amelot de Gournay. The famous architect Germain Boffrand had started building it the year before. Buying this house showed how brave the architect was and how confident Amelot was.
This house was special because it was different from other large Parisian homes of that time.
- Its main courtyard was completely closed off from the street by a low building with a central door. This door looked like a Roman triumphal arch.
- The front of the house was curved inwards. It had tall Corinthian pilasters, which are like flat columns.
- The house also had an oval-shaped front yard and an oval living room inside. Oval rooms soon became very popular in Parisian house designs.
Family Life
Michel-Jean Amelot had two daughters.
- On March 3, 1712, his daughter Marie-Anne married Henri-Charles, who was a count and a marquis.
- His other daughter, Catherine, married Joseph-Antoine Crozat, who was a marquis. Joseph-Antoine was the nephew and future heir of Pierre Crozat, a very rich art collector and expert who supported the artist Watteau.
See also
In Spanish: Michel-Jean Amelot para niños
