It's not one of the great ones, but it's certainly one of the more memorable ones: Romanesque, consecrated in 1135 or so (the memo about Gothic architecture had not been written yet); also Byzantine, with two nave domes; basilica shape, not cruciform; fortified west tower. And many funny faces, but mostly on just the north side, away from the cloister. We visited it, not for the first time, June 29th.
 |
The cathedral is so hemmed in you can only see it from the air;
the fortified tower is to the left of the two nave domes; the chancel
has Gothic windows and integral buttresses |
 |
Tympanum on the north portal; jam statues are
all gone |
 |
Up closer [click to enlarge]: it's a mixed scene, mostly the
Ascension (see the four happy angels on top to receive Jesus), a
Byzantine tympanic program derived from the abbey of Cluny;
but in the smaller registers, there are scenes from the martyrdom
of Stephen, to whom the church is dedicated
|
 |
Knave view; note the gallery on the left: sky boxes? accommodations
for peregrinos? |
 |
| West dome...apostles and scenes of Stephen's martyrdom |
 |
| East dome: "your message here," " this space available" |
 |
| Very old-looking frescoes in the tower |
 |
| The fortified main tower |
 |
| Funny faces |
 |
| And other figures |
 |
| Nice capitals |
 |
| And ever more funny faces on the north side |
 |
| Including two possible Sheelas [click to enlarge] |
 |
If not a Sheela, then certainly not a very Christian
pose |
 |
| Definitely on The Way |
 |
| Gothic/Byzantine apse |
 |
| And more funnies |
 |
| Cathedral garden |
2 comments:
Makes you wonder what was in the minds of the carvers of all those interesting faces decorating churches. Was it humor, fear, boredom, or was there a motive hidden somewhere there?
Surely there's a Dan Brown novel underlying the funny faces, a profound message. Don't call me Shirley.
Post a Comment