Cathedral Saint-Lazare In Autun

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Cathedral saint-Lazare in Autun is one of the most important Romanesque churches in France. Dating from the mid-12th century with some later Gothic additions, it is famous for its splendid sculptures by the Romanesque master sculptor Gislebertus. Saint-Lazare held relics of Lazarus, who was the man who Jesus raised from the dead. these were discovered in Autun in the early 12th century. The church was built on a grand scale shortly afterwards in the hopes that it would become a major pilgrimage destination. The Bishop of Autun was inspired by classical Roman decoration, which is not surprising considering the amount of important Roman remains at Autun. Gothic additions were made to the exterior, including the spire, after a fire in the 15th …show more content…

This was to change, however, when the nobility in France began to appreciate them as works of art and to display Roman statues in their own castles. Sculptors at Cluny were the first to pick up on this and use art on architecture. For the first time since the Roman Empire, the human figure appeared in Western art and the idea soon spread to other pilgrim churches. Teaching the word of god Architectural sculpture gave the church a new and powerful medium for teaching the word of god. Most people were illiterate, but now they could read the stories of Jesus and the saints over and over in the form of sculpture on the churches. Some Romanesque facades were modelled on Roman triumphal arches and had life size figures of saints on either side of the door. Many however had chilling images of god the father in dramatic Last Judgement scenes sculpted on a monumental scale and placed on the great tympanum over the doors for pilgrims to see as they entered the church. Death and the …show more content…

At the time of deep religious faith, a medieval believer entering the house of God was faced with the most terrible images that imagination could conjure up of the end of the world and a God of vengeance sitting in judgement. The grotesque images of devils, demons and tormented souls were intended to create a fear of Hell in people’s minds and serve as a reminded to them to be prepared for death at all times by repenting their sins. Abstract imagery Romanesque art was quite abstract. Realism was completely avoided not only in the case of demons and other fantastic creatures, but also in the representation of the human figure. No attempt was made to portray God or the saints in the natural way. Instead they were blocky, dignified and unreal or depicted as strange, elongated beings in a swirl of limbs and drapery. Saint-Lazare in Autun Pilgrims were traveling all over Europe during this period to visit the relics, the relics were very important, it was believed that they could heal the sick and that they could shorten their time in purgatory if they prayed to these relics. The whole church was built to house the relics of Lazarus. This church is about rebirth and hope after death, this is the subject of the last

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