Album Christ in Majesty from Martin M. Miles

Rates - São Pedro de Rates

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 21:02:37 +0000

The church was built over a pre-Romanesque one dating from the 8th/9th century. In 1100 the church and the convent were bestowed by Henry of Burgundy, Count of Portugal, the Cluniac priorate of La Charite-sur-Loire (about 1500kms northeast). French monks moved in, helping the pilgrims heading north to Santiago. The convent gathered impetus in the 12th century with the support of Afonso I of Portugal (aka "Dom Afonso Henriques", as he was Henry of Burgundy´s son).

The church São Pedro de Rates is the the only remaining building of the former monastery. It is believed to be one of the oldest existing romanesque churches in Portugal.

The western portal with an interesting tympanum. The two persons flanking Christ in the mandorla are standing on - creatures

Barnack - St John the Baptist

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 18 May 2024 18:24:28 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The limestone quarries in Barnack were already used by the Romans and many of the stones used to build Ely Cathedral in Anglo-Saxon and Norman times came from here.
St John the Baptist's Church is noted in particular for its Anglo-Saxon tower to which was added a spire of circa 1200, possibly one of the earliest spires in England.

In the north aisle is a large Romanesque sculpture of a seated Christ in Majesty that was discovered under the floor in 1931.

Ely - Cathedral

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 18 May 2024 12:25:33 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Ely was founded in 673 by St Æthelthryth, daughter of King Anne of East Anglia, by founding an abbey to the north of the village of Cratendune in the Isle of Ely. Queen Æthelthryth from Northumbria was on the run from her husband Ecgfrith, whom she refused to sleep with for twelve years in order not to break an oath of chastity. Ten years after her death, her body is said to have remained uncorrupted. She was reinterred in a marble sarcophagus, which was described as miraculous and attracted many pilgrims.

When the Normans under William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066, Ely was successfully defended under Hereward the Wake until the clergy handed over the Isle of Ely to the king in 1071 on condition that they were allowed to retain all the rights and privileges they had enjoyed since the time of Edward the Confessor. A diocese of Ely was founded as early as 1109.

Ely Cathedral is widely recognised as a prime example of Romanesque-Norman architecture due to its Romanesque core and Norman basic concept. A large number of its structural elements are in Gothic forms, the use of which began here as early as the 12th century. Under William the Conquerer, the new Romanesque abbey church was begun in 1083 by the Norman abbot Simeon, a former monk of St Ouen near Rouen, who was already 90 years old at the time. Work began with the choir. The eastern transept was built between 1087 and 1093 with aisles originally running around three sides of the wings. The arcades of this transept are now the oldest parts of the first construction phase. The 12-bay nave dates from the 12th century and has the highest nave in England. It was completed in 1180 and has a three-part elevation with alternating columns and galleries. The portal on the south aisle dates from around 1140 with a depiction of the Majestas Domini. An influence from south-west France is likely. The door led to the cloister, which no longer exists.

After a break of thirty years, the west tower and west transept were completed. The new master builder succeeded in completing the work, which had begun in Romanesque forms, by consistently using early Gothic pointed arches, without creating disharmony between old and new. Under Bishop Hugh of Northwold, the polygonal Romanesque choir was demolished and replaced from 1234 by the present six-bay Gothic choir, completed in 1252.

The Prior's Door (1135)

Morlaàs - Sainte-Foy

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 08:41:39 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

In 1080, when Morlaàs was in its heydays, the building of this church started by Centulle V, Viscount of Béarn, who had to make an atonement.
Morlaàs developed to an important "étape" on the Via Tolosana at that time. As the church was dedicated to St. Foy there was a kind of "link" to Conques. The church burnt down in 1520, got severely damaged in 1569. During the French Revolution the church turned to a "Temple of Reason". The restaurations of the 19th century saved the structure.

Viollet-le-Duc lead the restoration of the portal, seen here. As everywhere, where he worked (eg "Carcasonne", "Vézelay"), he "recreated" and "completed", what today is sometimes disputed. The perfect condition of the portal is a result of this restoration.

I had been here twice before and now finally the portal was cleaned. For decades this had been a gathering place for the pigeons of the town.

Saint-Aignan - Saint-Aignan

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 12:20:09 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The former collegiate church Saint-Aignan was built from the early 11th to the early 13th century, so there is a transition from Romanesque to early Gothic style. The church replaced a chapel from the 9th century and was a center of pilgrimage, as the relics of Saint Aignan of Orlean (+ 453) were venerated here.

The church was ruined for a long time and got renovated and restored during the 19th century. During the renovation of the nave at least some parts got recreated.

Fortunately the ambulatory crypt, the oldest part of the collegiate church Saint-Aignan, got not renovated like the nave. It stayed pretty much intact and has frescoes dating back to the 12th and 13th century.

The large fresco under the apse again (see previous uploads).

The Pantocrator in the mandorla is flanked by angels. Down below the scene with the pilgrims (previous upload). To the left are two scenes. Maybe these are the "Annunciation" and the "Visitation". On the right side of the center is the "Descent from the Cross" - and a "Pietà", Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus.

This would mean, that the fresco was probably created not before 1300, when the first Pietàs were carved in Germany.

Saint-Aignan - Saint-Aignan

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 18:04:21 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The former collegiate church Saint-Aignan was built from the early 11th to the early 13th century, so there is a transition from Romanesque to early Gothic style. The church replaced a chapel from the 9th century and was a center of pilgrimage, as the relics of Saint Aignan of Orlean (+ 453) were venerated here.

The church was ruined for a long time and got renovated and restored during the 19th century. During the renovation of the nave at least some parts got recreated.

Fortunately the ambulatory crypt, the oldest part of the collegiate church SaThe former collegiate church Saint-Aignan was built from the early 11th to the early 13th century, so there is a transition from Romanesque to early Gothic style. The church replaced a chapel from the 9th century and was a center of pilgrimage, as the relics of Saint Aignan of Orlean (+ 453) were venerated here.

The church was ruined for a long time and got renovated and restored during the 19th century. During the renovation of the nave at least some parts got recreated.

Fortunately the ambulatory crypt, the oldest part of the collegiate church Saint-Aignan, got not renovated like the nave. It stayed pretty much intact and has frescoes dating back to the 12th and 13th century.

Here is the apse of the crypt´s central chapel - and a Christ Pantocrator ("Christ in Majesty") in a mandorla.int-Aignan, got not renovated like the nave. It stayed pretty much intact and has frescoes dating back to the 12th and 13th century.

Here is the apse of the crypt´s central chapel - and a Christ Pantocrator ("Christ in Majesty") in a mandorla.

Poitiers - Notre-Dame la Grande

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 13 May 2015 14:24:57 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Notre-Dame la Grande, a former collegiate church, was completed within the 11th century.

The church replaced an older one, known since the 9th century. It got enlarged by two spans (and a fantastic facade) within the first half of the 12th century, but the largest part of the nave is 11th century.

The large (but faint) fresco over the apse was created in the 11th century. Christ in Majesty (in a double mandorla) - and the 12 apostles.

Ely - Cathedral

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 18 May 2024 11:42:24 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Water Stratford - St Giles

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 15 May 2024 21:08:10 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The earliest record of Water Stratford is from the time of Edward the Confessor. After the Norman conquest Water Stratford was one of manors in the region that was granted to Robert D'Oyly. The Domesday Book records that by 1086 Water Stratford had a watermill. Water Stratford remained in the D'Oyly family until the 13th century, when it passed from Henry D'Oyly to his nephew Thomas de Beaumont, 6th Earl of Warwick. The Earl died heirless, leaving his sister Margaret, by whose marriage Water Stratford then passed to the du Plessis family. Late in the 13th century Hugh du Plessis seems to have granted Water Stratford to Edward I. The manor was then the property of successive Princes of Wales until the English Civil War in the middle of the 17th century.

The parish church of Saint Giles was built in the 12th century. The south doorway is Norman and has a carved tympanum of Christ in Majesty. The chancel arch and one lancet window on either side in the chancel are 13th century. The tower was built in the 14th century and some Perpendicular Gothic windows were added. The tower was reduced in height in the 18th century.

Tympanum

Christ in Majesty, flanked by two angels

Water Stratford - St Giles

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 15 May 2024 20:55:04 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Rowlestone - St Peter

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 09 May 2024 20:15:43 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

This Norman church dedicated to St Peter was built about 1130, consisting of an aisle less nave and a chancel possibly with a semi circular apse. The chancel arch and south doorway are outstanding specimens of the famous Herefordshire School of Carving.

Eastleach - St Andrew´s Church

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 12:37:59 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Eastleach was created in 1935 when the separate parishes of Eastleach Turville and Eastleach Martin were combined as a civil parish. The two villages of the parish - Eastleach Turville and Eastleach Martin -are separated only by the narrow River Leach.

The Church of St Andrew at Eastleach (Turville) is neighbouring the St Michael and St Martin's Church on the other side of the River Leach. It was built in the 12th century.

The nave, north wall and arch of the chancel were built in the 12th century. In the 13th a north aisle and tower were added. Various restorations and revisions were carried out in the 17th to 19th centuries.

The building has stone slate roofs. It consists of a chancel, nave with north transept and a west tower.

The saddleback tower was added in the late 12th or early 13th century.

The Norman doorway, which dates from around 1130, has a carved tympanum with Christ in Majesty in the centre with angels on either side.

Eastleach - St Andrew´s Church

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 12:32:04 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Payerne - Notre Dame

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 13 May 2023 13:05:33 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Payerne Priory (= Peterlingen), a former Cluniac monastery, was founded around 962 by Empress Adelheid as the burial place of her mother Queen Berta of Burgundy. It was annexed to the reform abbey of Cluny in 962 as one of the first daughter monasteries. It was richly endowed by the kings of Burgundy and the German emperors and had extensive landholdings In 1033, Conrad II was crowned King of Burgundy in Peterlingen.

The priory was first directly managed by the abbots from Cluny, but starting in 1050 the local prior led the monastery with increasing independence. Saint Ulrich of Zell, was prior here in the later 11th century. He later founded two Cluniac monasteries in the Black Forest.

In 1444, the antipope Felix V raised the priory to an abbey. This elevation brought no benefits to the monastery. The Reformation and the weakening of Savoy's power led to the dissolution of the monastery. After the Bernese conquest of Vaud, some of the buildings were demolished.

The former abbey church of Notre Dame is an example of Cluniac architecture and an important Romanesque church building. The current construction was started in the 11th century by Abbot Odilo of Cluny on the site of the previous 10th-century church. Parts of the previous building, including the archaic capitals, were included in the new church.

After the Reformation, the church was profaned and served in the 17th century as a bell foundry, in the 18th century as a granary, and later also as a prison and barracks. Since 1926 a careful restoration was carried out.

Christ in Majesty.

The scene is the center of a depiction of the Last Judgment, Note the Elders to the left.

Massiac - Sainte-Madeleine de Chalet

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 10:49:22 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The Romanesque chapel from the 12th century was built on the edge of a basalt spur overlooking the Alagnon valley and the town of Massiac. It got the "Chalet" in its name from a nearby village.

The Lords of Mercœur had a feudal castle on this strategic position and the chapel was once part of that complex. It actually opened to the courtyard of the castle.

The very most of the large medieval ceiling fresco is lost, but "Christ in Majesty" (Majestas Domini) is still recognizable in the mandorla.

Kottingwörth - St. Vitus

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 13:39:40 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Kottingwörth developed from a settlement on an island ("Werder") in the Altmühl river. The first wooden church may date back to the time of Christianisation. The first stone church was built in the 12th century. It got consecrated between 1183 and 1195. The towers were built between 1250 and 1310. In the first half of the 16th century, the towers were raised. In the years 1760/61, the medieval church building was replaced by a baroque new building.

The oldest part of the church is the basement of the west tower, dated to the 13th century. Around 1310 the choir of the church (now the Vitus chapel) was adorned with frescoes. During the renovation work in the chapel in 1891 these murals were rediscovered under a coat of paint. The paintings are still well preserved.

Under the dome are a "Majestas Domini" (Christ in Majesty), the four evangelists (two by two) and two saints.

Milan - Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 19:35:14 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Milan is the city capital of the Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. Known during Roman times as "Mediolanum" it was the place, where in 313 Constantine I and Licinius met and "signed" the "Edict of Milan", giving Christianity a legal status within the Roman empire.

At the end of the Roman empire Milan was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, looted by the Huns in 452, and taken by the Ostrogoths in 539. Only 30 years later is belonged to the Kingdom of the Lombards, until in 774 Charlemagne defeated the Langobards and added Milan to the Carolingian empire. During Barbarossa´s (Frederik I) "Italian Campaigns" Milan was taken and destroyed to a great extent.

The "Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio" is much older and was not destroyed by Barbarossa´s troops. It is one of the most ancient churches in Milan, built by St. Ambrose in 379–386, outside the city of Milan on the site of a cemetery, where the martyrs of the Roman persecutions had been buried. The first name of the church was "Basilica Martyrum".

Ambrose, born into a noble family about 340 in (present-day) Trier (Germany), was governor of Liguria and Emilia for two years before he became the Bishop of Milan in 374 by popular acclamation. He was a staunch opponent of Arianism.

Only very few traces of the first church can still be found, as in the centuries after its construction, the basilica underwent numerous restorations and reconstructions. The current Romanesque church, mostly built in brickwork, was begun around 1080.

In 789, a Benedictine monastery was established here. The canons of the basilica, however, retained their own community. So two separate communities shared the basilica. In the 11th century, the canons adopted orders and became Canons Regular. From then on two separate monastic orders following different rules lived in the basilica. The canons were in the northern building, the cloister of the canons, while the monks were in the two southern buildings.

The two towers symbolize the division in the basilica. The 9th century Torre dei Monaci ("Tower of the Monks") tower was used by the monks. However, the canons did not have a bell tower and were not allowed to ring bells until they finished the Canons' bell tower in the 12th Century. This tower got two additional levels in 1889.

In 1943 the basilica got severely damaged by bombings. It took a decade to rebuilt and reconstruct the church.

The large apse was built, when Angilberto II (+859) was bishop here. The mosaic was done at that time (but later "renovated"). Christ in Majesty flanked by martyrs Protasio and Gervasio and the Archangels Michael and Gabriele. Gervasio and Gabriele are on the right side - and not ti be seen from this pov. To the left a scene from the miraculous life of Saint Ambrose.

Chassenard - Saint-Georges

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 15 May 2017 17:15:51 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The nave and this portal is all of the once Romanesque church that survived the times. The original church was erected within the 12th century, so the carvings seen here more than 800 years old. While the lintel is nearly weathered away the tympanum is still in good state.

Vals - Sainte-Marie

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 10:12:28 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The enigmatic church Notre-Dame de Vals towers over the tiny village of Vals (pop 90). The church, that is partly "troglodyte", carved into the giant rock, has three levels. The oldest part, called "the crypt", probably dates to the 9th or 10th century.

Most surprising here are frescoes, discovered under several layers of plaster in 1952. They are dated to around 1100/1120 and meanwhile got restaurated.

Nonantola - Abbazia di Nonantola

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 10:17:58 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Nonantola Abbey was founded in 752 by Saint Anselm, brother-in-law of the Lombard king Aistulf. Pope Stephen II presented relics of Saint Sylvester to the abbey, so it was named Saint Silvestro de Nonantula.

The abbey was already wealthy from the very beginning, in 780 Charlemagne endowed the abbey with many estates in Tuscany, where monks settled in Groppina (see "Pieve di San Pietro a Gropina"). In 883 the abbey was the place of a conference between Charlemagne´s great-grandson Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and Pope Marinus I.

The prosperious life ended, when in 900 Hungarian troops looted and completely destroyed the abbey. Reconstruction began soon after and about a century later the "imperial monastery" was one of the most powerful abbey in Europe. Abbot Godeschalc had a new basilica built in 1058. At the beginning of the Investiture Conflict it sided with the emperor, but Matilda of Tuscany stepped in and forced the abbey to change sides. It declared itself openly for the papal party in 1111.

The earthquake in 1117 damaged the abbey severely. The reconstruction started in 1121, so most of what is seen today is from the 12h century.

The tympanum over the basilica´s central door depicts Christ in Majesty, flanked by two angels and the symbols of the four evangelists.
The doorposts are covered with carvings. Some are attributed to the School of Wiligelmo. Wiligelmo and his workshop worked at that time as well in Modena, only 10kms southwest.