Among his handiwork were
crowns, chalices, and crosiers, and he is reputed to have made the chair
of bronze-gilt now in the National Library at Paris, called the
_fauteuil_ of Dagobert, and many other works, which disappeared either
during the wars of Louis XV. or those of the Revolution of 1789. He
founded the Abbey of Solignac, near Limoges, and it is not improbable
that the reputation of this city for metal-work and enamelling may be
dated from his foundation. With such works as those of Eloy before them,
it is difficult to believe that the wretched and puerile attempts at
ornamental penmanship and illumination which are shown at Laon and other
places as the work of this period can possibly represent the highest
efforts of the calligrapher. But we must remember that St. Eloy was an
extraordinary genius in his art, and that the bulk of the clergy, not to
mention ordinary workmen, were very ignorant and ill-taught. Very few,
indeed, were men who could be considered cultured. Gregory of Tours, the
historian, and Venantius Fortunatus, the hymn-writer, are among the few.
In the Library at Laon, M. Fleury describes a MS. of the Natural History
of Isidore of Seville, which is looked upon as a work of reference both
as regards art and learning.
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