Gallery

CERCLES CHURCH AND BEYOND

This is a presentation of approximately 75 slides of sculptures in the church of Cercles - and beyond

link Link: click on the link to see the presentation...

THE GREEN MEN of NOTRE DAME LA GRANDE, POITIERS - click on the text to see the album

The richly decorated façade of Notre Dame la Grande, Poitiers, has an exceptionally large number of Masques Feuillus of different kinds. Whereas the scheme of biblical sculpture is well-documented and often described, there remain many questions.

The figure known as Jesse bears an interesting resemblance to a sculpture of Cernunnos found beneath Notre Dame de Paris, where there was previously a pagan temple. (The photograph of Cernunnos has kindly been offered by Isabelle Didierjean through the good offices of J-F Bradu.) What can the seated figure on Jesse's left represent? Is it male or female? Clad in armour or rather beautiful leggings? We can see that it is mutilated, but what is the block that remains? Is the sculpture unfinished, or is it a crude attempt to support crumbling masonry? Please send a message to the Forum if you have any ideas. On the other side of the façade is a kind of Satyr. Among the many fanciful creatures besporting themselves among the saints and prophets, my favourite is a merry little Merman Imp. Look at the way his legs turn into serpentine monsters with snarling heads, and then please refer to my short article among the "Notes & Queries" called Lion Horns. This is my personal interpretation of the image :

The imp is an "Image of Lust" representing man's libido. Medieval man was always admonished to be vigilant regarding his base animal instincts. If he gave way to his urges he would become an animal himself. He must grasp his desire and grapple with it to prevent himself falling into the sin of Luxuria.

PICASA WEB ALBUMS

I have placed a number of albums showing individual or small groups of churches with Romanesque sculpture here :

http://picasaweb.google.com/JuliannaLees

THE OLDEST CHURCH IN FRANCE : the BAPTISTERY, POITIERS - click on the text to see the pictures

The Saint John Baptistery is the oldest Christian building in France, built around 360 A.D, probably by order of Saint Hilaire, the first bishop of Poitiers. It was rebuilt in the VIIth. century. The most important feature of the original building is the octagonal pool, fed by an aqueduct, used for baptisms by immersion. During the visit, one may admire the XIth. century wall paintings as well as the small Merovingian archaeological museum.

ST GEORGES & MONTAGNE CHURCH - Click on the text to see the album

This is Chateau St Georges which I think was designed to make one think of Ausonius's palace. I took the picture of the two churches from just beyond the stone lions. However, the palace which was NOT at the "Chateau Ausone" winery at St Emilion, was probably on the other side of Montagne, at Chateau St André. The owners make excellent wine, also known as "Petit Corbin". Everything found on this property - statues of Diana and Venus, mosaics, etc, is either in Bordeaux or Libourne museums, but they think there's still lots more below ground.

PONCE church in the Beauce, Photographs by Peter Hubert - click on the text to see the album

Poncé-sur-le-Loir, Maine. The church of St Julien has remarkable frescos, and is one of several churches in the area with similar paintings. Click here to see an article and more pictures : http://www.art-roman.net/ponce/ponce.htm

THE SCULPTURES OF CHAUVIGNY IN VIENNE - Photographs by Peter Hubert - click on the text to see the album

Chauvigny is a remarkable village built on a hill with the Abbey of St Pierre, the church of Notre Dame and the castle rendering it a photographer's delight from every angle. The sculptures in the Abbey are unique and instantly recognisable, with their Biblical scenes, quaint monsters, bold outlines and startling colour schemes. Several are signed by the artist, Godfridus, itself a rarity since sculptors were usually anonymous.

ST PIERRE at AULNAY - Photographs by Peter Hubert - click on the text to see the album

The church of St Pierre at Aulnay has an exceptionally rich collection of sculptures of very high quality. Many of the images found here can be seen, often in a modified form, in the smaller churches of the neighbouring area such as Contrée, Salles les Aulnay and St Mandé sur Brédoire. One unique image on a modillion half-hidden behind the East end of the church on the outside shows a beautiful foliage utterer or Green Man. The image seems almost Hellenic in its purity, neither obviously male or female. It is certainly angelic rather than demonic, and surely stands for Divine Inspiration from the Word of God.

GREEN MEN AND BEASTS AT CONZAC Photographs by Robin and Julie Lees - click on the text to see the album

The former priory church of Saint Jacques at Conzac is tucked away in a quiet corner of the Charente at the end of a very rural hamlet. The visitor is astonished by its size and splendour and by the profusion of beautiful sculptures inside as well as good modillions on the exterior. The naked green men playing among foliage have been copied at Plassac and elsewhere in the region. See also, "Naked and Clothed among Vines".

Sculptures at ETRIAC near Chateauneuf de CHARENTE - click on the text to see the album

From the outside, Etriac is a modest church with a small façade surmounted by a line of corbels of little interest. Seen from the North, it is a long, fortress-like barn of a building. The mayor really should find somewhere else to put the dustbin!

Inside, there is a theatrical-looking procenium arch dividing the nave and the choir. However, the sculptures on the capitals are of remarkable quality. The masks, birds, beasts and figures are mostly entwined in foliage, recalling those of Conzac, Plassac and Chateauneuf, none of which are far away. One scultured group of Green Men and birds - looking rather like cocks - reminded me of one of the capitals at Cercles on the crossing, just to the left of the choir.

MOUTHIERS-SUR-BOEME, near ANGOULEME - click on the text to see the gallery

Mouthiers-sur-Boeme is a former abbey church just a short drive South of Angouleme. From the tribune you can enjoy excellent views of the nearer capitals. Those in the choir are smaller, more complicated and more difficult to interpret.

There is an abundance of masks, birds, beasts and monsters with foliage in their mouths and surrounding them. Two of the capitals are striking and unusual : a Green Man with bent stick-like legs and foliage coming from his solar plexus has been emasculated by puritan vandals; a siren, in an exhibitionist posture rides above a pair of dogs or deer with their necks intertwined. These animals are reminiscent of a capital at Cercles.

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