Lagrauliere - Saint-Marcel

Saint-Marcel dominates the center of Lagrauliere like a castle. Built in the 12th century on older foundations the church underwent a couple of alterations, fortifications and renovations over the centuries. Once monks from the Cistercian Obazine Abbey (30kms south) lived in the top floors of the tower.

Saint-Marcel dominates the center of Lagrauliere like a castle. Built in the 12th century on older foundations the church underwent a couple of alterations, fortifications and renovations over the centuries. Once monks from the Cistercian Obazine Abbey (30kms south) lived in the top floors of the tower.

The Cistercians may not have been the first here, as despite Bernard of Clairvaux´s damnation of sculptural works, the Romanesque portal of Saint-Marcel is remarkable. This may be a proof of an earlier influence from some unknown Cluniac place.

The left side of the portal. The structure shows parallels to Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne with the pillar in front of the carving. Here are two halfs, of which the left one is in a much better state, than the right one, where some parts are missing.

Over the arch of the left side is a miniature scene of Romanesque architecture. This may stand for a monastery. When this was placed here, the villagers knew exactly, which one.

Below is a large angel, swinging a censer. He stands at the end of a bed, in which a person is taking the dying breath. The right side is pretty damaged or weathered. A mourning person sits next to the bed, while the soul is just leaves the body - and either an angel or a devil grabs the soul.

Note that a lamp is hanging from the pillar and "lightens" the scene, this creates a "reality" of background and foreground for the onlooker. He is looking "into" a room through a transparent wall.

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This was my first impression - Meanwhile I doubt, that the angel swings a censer....

The angel holds a scale (the balance beam is broken off). What I saw as a censer and what I saw as a lamp - both are pans. There is even a small head looking from the left pan! This is a psichostasia, the the "Weighing of the Soul". The bedpost seen on the left is carved, What a luxury! This is probably the death of a rich person.