These photos are nearly 12 years old. They're pictures of wall paintings, but not exactly; they're pictures of ceiling paintings on very high ceilings. Taking photos of details like these means using a long zoom.
The Michelin Guide says of these paintings, which were painted directly on old stone or mortar:
« Les couleurs employées, peu nombreuses, se réduisent à l'ocre jaune, à l'ocre rouge et au vert, mélangés au noir et au blanc. L'ensemble présente généralement une grande douceur de tons, mais reste très lumineux grâce à des jeux de contrastes : une vie intense anime les différents personnages, les pied entrecroisés indiquent le mouvement, les vêtements moulent les formes, les mains souvent d'une longueur disproportionnée sont très expressives. »
Thank you so much for this, I love pre-renaissance art.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment.
DeleteWere they decoration or to tell a story to an audience with limited or no literacy? Jay spent several years writing on that question.
ReplyDeleteProbably in both a decorative and didactic way. Somebody said later that a picture is worth a thousand words. Also, remains of paint were found on the stuatuary in Amiens cathedral, which means churches were brightly colored and decorated. Notre-Dame la Grande in Poitiers, not far from Saint-Savin, is a good example.
DeleteI should have said remnants instead of remains.
DeleteI was going to say the same thing as CHM — probably a little bit of both.
DeleteVery much what the classists agree on in Roman and Greek frescos.
DeleteThank you Ken for these beautiful and excellent photos.
ReplyDeleteAs I said in a previous post, these "murals" were copied and now can be seen "closer" in the library of la Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine a.k.a. le Musée des monuments français in the Palais de Chaillot. The French Sisteen Chapel is worth a detour!
Great shots, Ken, thank you!
ReplyDeleteI think they're lovely aged as they are, rather than super-restored. Before development of perspective....
ReplyDeleteFrance is so rich in treasures. I love these!
ReplyDeleteI might need to plan for several months in France! So much history and sites to see, I hate to miss any on my next trip!
ReplyDelete