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The last flourishes in Gothic decoration are the bosses which may be placed on the vaulting where ribbing intersects. Other decorative opportunites are on the corbels where the ribs throw their weight into the walls. In St.-Pere the bosses are conventional in type, but the corbels are most fanciful. One head has classical negroid features and another head (a miser?) is being eroded or devoured by devil-birds. Do not forget to notice the fonts near the entry which are inverted brass bells (one is covered to hold a guest-book).
Written Nov 30, 2008
The radiant chapels are of interest. Near them in a niche, one first encounters an ancient gisant lying next to an equally old polychromed relief. Thenearby chapel contains a Madonna and child and altar plus stained glass of antique pattern (and possibly also old). A second chapel contains a 10C altar.
Written Nov 30, 2008
The nave of St.-Pere is an early example (1225-40) of the elimination of the triforium in a Gothic church. The height (50m) is achieved by tall arched arcades and tall clerestory windows. The absent second level is reduced to an open ledge. There are wide aisles and an ambulatory with radiating chapels since it was designed with pilgrims in mind.
Written Nov 30, 2008
The 13C porch as originally built was open with Gothic stone tracery in the bay windows. Some of these are now sealed. When Viollet-le-Duc visited the church while he was planning the Vezelay restoration, he fell in love with the work on this one and decided to restore it at the same time. The porch was a favoriteof his. A patterned doorway without a tympanum(but greeting angels) leads into the church proper. There are scupted heads on the outside as well as gargoyles. In a niche under the porch is a tomb of the two noble donors.
Written Nov 30, 2008
Spired bell-towers are not too common for this period. Here is a 50m one, which below is characteristically square (hidden by ongoing repair work). Above this the edges are replaced by adding columns which at the next level support heralding angel statues which force a sturdy octagonal shape. Wherever possible various decorative pieces of carved stonework are added.
Written Nov 29, 2008
The most unexpected aspects of the church of St.-Pere (originally called Notre Dame) are its spired bell-tower, its porch and its statued gable. The gable was undoubtedly done here first by the creator of the Narthex at Vezelay because the latter is more precise. There must have been a large number of stone-carvers around and the Cluniacs were able to assemble them in this locale, because the advances in technic here show a strong schooling. The facade has a small Rose window at whose lower edge are two mythical beasts. The gable has 9 niches and 10 statues. The central niche holds Christ above being crowned by Angels with St. Stephen below. The group to the South are Mary, Peter, Andrew and James, while to the North are the Magdaleine, John and two evangelists.
Updated Nov 29, 2008
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The most unexpected aspects of the church of St.-Pere (originally called Notre Dame) are its spired bell-tower, its porch and its statued gable. The gable was...
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St.-Pere (sometimes with a descriptor “sous Vezelay”) (pop. 350) is a village one mile into the valley from Vezelay along the Cure. It has a desolate but attractive large (50m) Gothic church of the......
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