The skull is watching you...

The exceptional altarpiece in the Saint-Eustache chapel of the Saint-Protais-Saint-Gervais church, surprising for its architectural quality and its symbolic significance, is one of the oldest preserved in Mayenne (1530). Quotes in Latin evoke death, and the skull that adorns the center of the altar gives the altarpiece a macabre meaning.

LE CRÂNE VOUS GUETTE... L'exceptionnel retable de la chapelle Saint-Eustache de l’église Saint-Protais-Saint-Gervais, surprenant par sa qualité architecturale et sa portée symbolique est l’un des plus anciens conservés en Mayenne (1530). Des phrases en latin évoquent la mort, et le crâne qui orne le centre de l’autel donnent au retable une signification macabre.

DER SCHÄDEL BEOBACHTET EUCH.... Das aussergewöhnliche Altarbild in der Saint-Eustache-Kapelle der Saint-Protais-Saint-Gervais-Kirche, das durch seine architektonische Qualität und seine symbolische Bedeutung überrascht, ist eines der ältesten in der Mayenne (1530). Sätze in lateinischer Sprache zitieren den Tod, und der Schädel, der die Mitte des Altars schmückt, verleiht dem Altarbild eine makabere Bedeutung.

goandgo, Nouchetdu38, Heide, tiabunna and 22 other people have particularly liked this photo

40 comments - The latest ones

Jaap van 't Veen ^club

Wonderful details !!

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to Jaap van 't Veen ^club

Thansk Jaap, indeed, here they are really out of the ordinary.

3 years ago.

Pat Del ^club

D'une grande beauté cet autel !

(Une photo qui mériterait d'être exposée sur le site (gratuit) 'pormenaz.free.fr )

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to Pat Del ^club

Merci Pat. Je suis allée voir le site que tu mentionnes, quelqu'un a vraiment effectué un super travail pour répertorier les églises et mégalithes de France.

3 years ago.

David G Johnson ^club

Aaaaagh !.... he needs a good meal !.... // Keep good Christa' and Cheers'.. from David J.

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to David G Johnson ^club

Thanks David, I don't want to be eaten by him;-))) Have a nice weekend.

3 years ago.

PascalL ^club

superbe église, joli souvenir de mon ancien département, bonne journée

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to PascalL ^club

Merci Pascal, ton ancien département est riche en histoire.... Bon 1er mai.

3 years ago.

Walter 7.8.1956 ^club

Schön Dokumentiert, und Danke für die Informationen dazu!!

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to Walter 7.8.1956 ^club

Danke Walter, ich find's immer interessant, wenn man zum Foto auch etwas lesen kann...

3 years ago.

vero

une merveille cet église, sublime autel , Pat, , merçi pour toutes les infos, belle journée bisous

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to vero

Merci Vero, oui, il faut dire qu'il est assez exceptionnel. Bises et bon 1er mai.

3 years ago.

Stefani Wehner ^club

Schoener und gleichzeitig interessanter Alter! Christa!

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to Stefani Wehner ^club

Danke Stef, ein Altar, der aus "dem Rahmen fällt".... As-tu bien reçu ton brin de muguet aujourd'hui ? Bon 1er mai.

3 years ago.

Malik Raoulda ^club

Admirable et excellemment rendue.
Bonne et agréable fin de semaine salutaire.

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to Malik Raoulda ^club

Merci Malik, je suis contente que tu apprécies. Bon weekend.

3 years ago.

Mario Vargas ^club

really a piece of art, lovely shot

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to Mario Vargas ^club

Thanks Mario. It is really richly decorated in an unusual way.

3 years ago.

Loose_Grip/Pete ^club

Very macabre!
HFF Christa, have a great weekend.

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to Loose_Grip/Pete ^club

Thanks Peter. Something you wouldn't expect to see in a catholic church.... Have a nice weekend.

3 years ago.

Berny ^club

Immer ein bisschen gruselig ;-)

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to Berny ^club

Danke Berny, das gefällt mir hier, ein Altar, der mal aus "dem Rahmen" fällt...

3 years ago.

Peter_Private_Box ^club

Hi Christa
A very nice picture, but the skull is very strange..
Christian churches do not do witchcraft!
None the less, a very nice composition!
Best Wishes, a nice weekend, and stay safe!!
Peter

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to Peter_Private_Box ^club

Thanks Peter, I don't think it has something to do with witchcraft, but perhaps the religious builders just wanted to remind the visitor of his mortality?...

3 years ago.

Peter Castell ^club

A very interesting a nd wonderful capture Christa I hope you have a pleasant weekend

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to Peter Castell ^club

Thank you Peter, this is an old country church that is exceptional for its interior.

3 years ago.

Madeleine Defawes ^club

Superbe intérieur bien capté !
Bon weekend. Amitiés

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to Madeleine Defawes ^club

Merci Madeleine, chaque visiteur est en effet surpris devant cette chapelle. Bon weekend.

3 years ago.

Stefani Wehner ^club has replied to Christa1004 ^club

Non, je suis très allergique et peux pas le sentir. Tout le monde autour de moi sait ça et respecte! Je te souhaite un bon weekend, ma belle!

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to Stefani Wehner ^club

Alors, je t'envoie quand même un porte-bonheur, mais ce sera le trèfle à quatre feuilles :-)

3 years ago.

Stefani Wehner ^club has replied to Christa1004 ^club

Ein grosses DANKESCHOEN fuer das4-blaettrige Kleeblatt, Christa und Gute Nacht!

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to Stefani Wehner ^club

:-)

3 years ago.

Petite 106 (Sylvie) ^club

Macabre en effet. En dehors de cela, le retable est magnifique.

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to Petite 106 (Sylvie) ^club

Merci Sylvie, en tout cas il fait parler de lui, il y a beaucoup de visiteurs dans cette église rien que pour voir ce retable !!

3 years ago.

José Manuel Polo ^club

En la foto principal ya vi la calavera, en el PiP con mucho más detalle. Las fotografías están hechas con esmero. Calaveras era tendencia en la edad media de ponerlas en las iglesias, las he visto en varias, incluso en el Vaticano. Otra cosa; he venido a tu galería, no he visto esta foto en sección “Actualidad”.

3 years ago. Edited 3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to José Manuel Polo ^club

Thanks José Manuel, I don't know why you didn't see my photo in "News" - but at least you discovered it! It is very interesting what you write about the skulls, that you have seen them often in churches, because it is my first time here.

3 years ago.

grobi358 ^club

Und dann hat man ihn auch noch im Rücken! Keine beruhigende Vorstellung! ;)) Dankeschön für die ausführliche Erläuterung!

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to grobi358 ^club

Danke Karsten, DAS ist doch mal ein Altarschmuck, der aus dem Rahmen fällt - und sowas gefällt mir immer am besten ;-)

3 years ago.

John Lawrence

Thanks for posting to the group
www.ipernity.com/group/churches

3 years ago.

Christa1004 ^club has replied to John Lawrence

Thanks for your welcome, John.

3 years ago.

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