Saint Médard, Patron Saint of Umbrella Sellers, c.1910 (colour litho)

Illustration from a series of the patron saints of different trades and professions produced as promotional cards to accompany the sale of 'Chocolat Aiguebelle'; Saint Medard (c.457-c.545) French saint; his feast day is on 8 June and as with the English Saint Swithin, it is believed that the weather on that day will continue for 40 days; as a child he was protected from rain by an eagle who hovered over him and this explains his association with umbrellas ;Saint-Médard, patron des marchands de parapluies; the Chocolaterie d'Aiguebelle was established in 1869 by Trappist monks at their abbey of Aiguebelle in the Drôme area; between 1893 and 1895 a factory was built in the nearby town of Donzère and became an important supplier of chocolate products until 1978, when production ceased and the factory closed; however a branch had been established in 1942 in Morocco and as the Compagnie Chérifienne de Chocolaterie continues today to make chocolates under the brand name of Aiguebelle; the promotional trade cards produced by Aiguebelle in the late 19th and early 20th century were of exceptional quality;