History of St Thomas

Also in Edinburgh at this time was Father (who was to be later, Bishop) Gillis, who had very strong links with the French Royal family.  It could be thought that introductions were made, since Father Lovi, while in Paris, approached Charles X for a contribution to his proposed new church.  Charles gave money, and commissioned François Dubois, a very successful, well-known painter, to provide an altar-piece.  The subject of the painting was to be “The Incredulity of Saint Thomas” and it was painted around 1828.

Unfortunately, this occurred at the same time as Charles X being disposed in 1830.  The painting was then “lost”.  Despite the efforts of the British Ambassador in Paris to find the painting, it remained undiscovered.  Charles X had been exiled and he returned to Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.  Undeterred, Father Lovi travelled to Paris, where just after Christmas 1830 he traced the painting to The Louvre, and he returned with it to Keith before the opening of his new church. The back of the painting still bears what is thought to be Charles’ monogram, firmly stamped on the reverse of the canvas, while on the front there is a brass plate, bearing the inscription, "Carolus X, Rex Gallorum Christainissimus dona dedit AD 1828" ("Charles X, most Christian King of France, gave this, AD 1828").