According to the Cadogan Loire guidebook, “The high point of the [Saint-Aignan] church interior is the crypt. This was an older church upon which the larger one was later plonked. The dark, dank place contains some vestiges of fine Romanesque wall paintings [and] it also offered excellent conditions for a local wine merchant to keep his stock in the last century [the 19th], saving this level [of the church] from the clinical restoration work carried out above.” That would explain, in part, how the wall paintings here have survived since the 12th century.
Wonderful that these paintings survived. Such a different world, the 12th century! Imagine living all the time in fear of disease, hunger, brigands and lords, and under the omnipresent stress of religious mores. Yet there was still glorious art, there were incredible architectural achievements, and the joys of everyday food, life and music.
ReplyDeleteKiwi, you said it all. Nothing to add. Thank you.
DeleteDitto! Kiwi
DeleteI am wondering how far in time goes the use of text ballooning or the like as shown on photo #2 and 4 under the form of a ribbon? I also wonder if by “clinical” the guide author means disfigured or something else. In any case these wall paintings were saved in their “juice” (wine?).
ReplyDeleteKiwi, good thoughts :)
ReplyDeleteBefore photography there was art. There's always been art to enlighten and unite us.
ReplyDeleteEvelyn
Thanks to the wine merchant!
ReplyDeleteBettyAnn
Yes, BettyAnn, I was thinking, "...who would have thought a few bottles of wine could be so important to future generations?"
ReplyDelete