Auch's windows are 16th century, later than most we have admired. By 1513, when these windows were created, much had been learned, obviously, about color, perspective, balance, optics, and also about subject matter. Some say there is great hidden meaning and symbolism in the Auch windows, but we did not stay long enough to notice anything more than the multiplicity of themes, stories, morals, and more. The beauty and clarity are really what hits you in all of these 18 windows, no matter how brief your visit, as well as the Renaissance mixture of Biblical and Classical. We know the name of the artist: Arnaud de Moles, a Gascon. There are whole websites on Auch's windows--some of them a bit goofy (don't read the profundities)--and I'll post just a few pix here.
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These are the uninteresting windows on the west and east ends
of the nave, mostly clear, but |
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| There are mythological figures and even some Arcimboldo-type figures up higher |
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The clarity of the figures is stunning; here are some Green Men (?); I am so proud
of my little camera for capturing these figures, 40 feet up in the air... |
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| I never miss an Adam and Eve and friend |
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| As seen on Terry Gilliam's Monty Python |
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| Jonah being fed to the "whale" |
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| Other nasty critters |
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| Typical window |
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The Sybil Europa in the middle; each of the major windows features a Sybil; last
place we saw a bunch of Sybils was, um, the Sistine Chapel; this was of course
the time when The Church was trying to appropriate whatever glory it could from
the ancients |
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| Isaiah |
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