Chaource - Saint-Jean-Baptiste

The town of Chaource (pop. 1100) is known for the Chaource cheese and the church dedicated to Saint-Jean-Baptiste.

The choir was part of a church built within the 14th century, but from 1531 on the old nave got teared down and was replaced by nave and aisles seen here.

Chapels were added to the structure – and a great number of sculptures was collected. They survived iconoclasts and revolutionary vandals and now are on display.

Just like seen on the previous upload - is either Anthony of Padua or Anthony the Great, but a little younger now. Not all sculptures are from that superb quality. This one looks more like a mass-produced statue from the 19th century. But that is just a guess..

Anthony of Padua was born around 1190 in Portugal, He he joined Francis of Assisi´s just founded Order of Friars Minor and preached in Morocco, France and Italy. He died in 1231 near Padua.

He is often seen with a pig, though the pig was originally the attribute of Anthony the Great, an eremite and one of the Egyptian "Desert Fathers".

Eremites may have had long beards, but I think here is Anthony of Padua, with this brownish habit, the walking staff and the book.