Triple Portrait of Cardinal Richelieu (1585 – 1642) by Philippe de Champaigne. A great patron of the arts as well as a statesman, Richelieu built a private theatre in his palace which was to become an early home of the Paris Opera. After his death, it was known as the Théâtre du Palais-Royal and saw the premieres of many operas by Lully including Psyché and Alceste .