Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: corbeau

The construction of the "Église Saints-Pierre-et-Paul" started around 1150. The basilica-style church has the classical layout of a latin cross and is known for the carvings. Size and the quality of some of them are really breathtaking. There are different artistic styles here. I seems like four master-carvers were given a chance, to show their talents and so they used this as a showcase. Here a really fat, bearded, naked atlas. He looks bored and is uncomfortably pressed into a corner, holding the weight of the vault. He is in a very unergonomic body posture, but if he would not press the knees together - he would for sure fall down to the ground - and burst. Please compare this carving to an atlas from Sélestat (Schlettstadt), only 30kms south - and have in mind, that both corbels are about the same age (+/-30 years). www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/5365376432/ Sorry for the bad quality of the photo..

The construction of the "Église Saints-Pierre-et-Paul" started around 1150. The basilica-style church has the classical layout of a latin cross and is known for the carvings. Size and the quality of some of them are really breathtaking. There are different artistic styles here. I seems like four master-carvers were given a chance, to show their talents and so they used this as a showcase. Another corbel, depicting another overweighted man. This time only there is only the head, a carved caricature. Maybe a medieval burlesque. The guy seems to be so fat, that is tongue has not enough room inside the mouth, his ears are similar to pig´s ears, his eyes are bulged out - and his flabby chin is endless. His hair is nicely curled, he probably used greasy hair-gel... He for sure is not everybody´s darling: He was called "Piggy" by his fellow men, a nickname probably used already in early times. I am sure he suffered from high blood pressure Sorry for the bad quality of the photo..

The construction of the "Église Saints-Pierre-et-Paul" started around 1150. The basilica-style church has the classical layout of a latin cross and is known for the carvings. Size and the quality of some of them are really breathtaking. There are different artistic styles here. I seems like four master-carvers were given a chance, to show their talents and so they used this as a showcase. Another corbel - depicting the face of a nicely combed woman. The face is framed by two small braids. She is obviously very suprised and amused (maybe meeting "Piggy" - seen of the last photo last photo - high up there) and so has raised her eyebrows and shows a small smile. If she would have a hand - she would probably take the cobweb off her face. Sorry for the bad quality of the photo..

The construction of the "Église Saints-Pierre-et-Paul" started around 1150. The basilica-style church has the classical layout of a latin cross and is known for the carvings. Size and the quality of some of them are really breathtaking. There are different artistic styles here. I seems like four master-carvers were given a chance, to show their talents and so they used this as a showcase. This is the most strangest and most cryptic corbel I found. It is interesting, as in the middle is a scale model of a pillar from the nave. The model is a little simplified, but as the capitals here are very specific, it can only be one of the pillars here. So the corbel is a kind of "mirror" under the vault, reflecting what is happening down below. In front of that pillar are two persons, holding hands. The figures have very long arms - and the gesture of "holding hands" forms the letter "W". Below this "W" are the other arms (forming a inverted "V") - and I cannot find out, what they are grabbing. Maybe each others knee. Are these persons dancing? Then the left one would probably be female. Are they wrestling? Or is this another form of "beardpulling" - without beards? In this case both would be male. - And whatever it may be - could that happen down in the nave? From the style this corbel differs greatly from others inside Saints-Pierre-et-Pau, artisticly and thematically. This corbel tells a story - and the story has to do with very long arms/hands... Sorry for the bad quality of the photo..