The Cardinal de Rohan

This drawing shows Louis-René-Édouard, cardinal de Rohan (1734-1803), wearing the order of the Saint-Esprit around his neck and pointing to an image of an obelisk that he commissioned. The obelisk honors Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, vicomte de Turenne (1611-75), who achieved great military fame during the reign of Louis XIV before dying in battle in Sasbach, Germany. Rohan erected the monument in 1782; he was a great admirer of Turenne, and in his capacity as Bishop of Strasbourg also had sovereignity over Sasbach, which is nearby. The monument, a triangular obelisk, was about 15 meters high and made of black marble. It was short-lived, however, being destroyed in 1786 in a fierce storm.