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The tympanum of the last Judgement |
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A fresco with 124 figures |
On the western portal of the abbey-church of Saint Foy, a deep semi-circular arch shelters the Last Judgement tympanum, one of the fundamental works of roman sculpture by its artistic qualities, its originality and also its size. 6.70 wide and 3.60 high, it shelters no less than one hundred and twenty four figures in an outstanding state of preservation. It is the most beautiful work in the Auvergne's sculpture during the XIIth century. Initially, it was perhaps situated into the church, the current translation could date back to the end of the XIVth century.
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Overall composition |
The overall composition is very simple : the huge semi-circle of the tympanum is composed
of three superposed registers split by the strips which are reserved for engraved
inscriptions. In order to fill-in these registers, the author divided them in a series of
compartments which correspond to the twenty panels in yellow limestone he sculpted at ground
level before assembling them like a gigantic jigsaw. This division easy to discern has been
skilfully made given that one join never intersects one figure or one scene.
The main source of inspiration for the Last Judgement was the Gospel of Saint Matthew. The
artist wanted to fix into stone the dramatic moment when Christ uttered the words engraved
on the small banderoles which two angels unroll on either side of his head :
«Then he will say to the people on his right : come you who are blessed by my father come
and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you. Then he will say to those on his
left : away from me, you that are under God's curse, away to the eternal fire which has
been prepared for the devil... and these then will be sent off to eternal punishment, and
the righteous will go to eternal life».
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Texts from Jean-Claude FAU
Editions of Beffroi - Regional Council of Aveyron Photographs from André KUMURDJIAN Translation from Valérie FABRE |
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