Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Flight to Egypt

Sant'Andrea, believed to have been Pistoia´s ancient cathedral, is thought to date back to the period of Lombard domination. The present day church dates to the mid 12th century. Inside Sant'Andrea is this masterpiece of Giovanni Pisani, who created this great marble pulpit created 1298 - 1301. It is sometimes compared to the pulpits sculpted by Giovanni's father Nicola in the Baptistery of Pisa and the Duomo of Siena, which Giovanni had assisted with. The Pisanis´ works are often described as "proto-Renaissance". There is an inscription here, telling that the work was commissioned by Arnoldus and supervised by Andrea Vitelli and Tino di Vitale. It continues ".. Giovanni carved it (...), the son of Nicola, and blessed with higher skill.." The pulpit has a hexagonal plan with seven columns (one in the middle) and five parapets. Depicted on one of the parapets is in the left corner the "Dream of the Magi" - an angel tells them not to return to Jerusalem. Above them are their horses. Further right the "Adoration of the Magi". Two angels are watching, one is the "Star of Bethlehem". In the right corner is the dream of Joseph. He learns from the angel, that he now should migrate to Egypt with Mary and little Jesus. This dream starts the "Flight to Egypt".

Rucqueville, a tiny village about 10 kms east of Bayeux, was a settlement already in gallo-roman times. Saint Pierre was erected end of the 11th century on older foundations. At that time, the place was owned by the abbey "Sainte Trinité" in Caen (aka "Abbaye aux Dames"). This may explain why such an "expensive" church was built here. Saint Pierre houses some of the most elaborate capitals I found within the region. Medieval masters have worked here. Here is one of the eight capitals around the crossing. The "Flight to Egypt".

The construction of the "Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens" started in 1220, after a predecessor Romanesque church burnt down two years earlier. Unusual for medieval structures, the first architects are known here. Robert de Luzarches was the architect until 1228. He was followed by Thomas de Cormont until 1258. His son, Renaud de Cormont, acted as the architect until 1288. Today Amiens Cathedral is the largest existing Gothic cathedral in France. There was a lot of competition between the cities and towns about the largest nave, the highest vaults. The long and relatively peaceful reign of Louis IX (aka "Saint Louis") brought prosperity to the region, so that Amiens could afford such a structure. The cathedral is 145m long (interior length 133,50m). The volume of the structure is about 200.000m³, Notre Dame de Paris has only about 100.000m³ The western facade is dotted with 118 bas-relief medallions. This one depicts the "Flight to Egypt". Thanks to "tereliyesajjan", I found this impressive and highly interesting websites: www.medievalart.org.uk/Amiens/Amiens_default.htm

The Monasterio de San Pedro el Viejo ("Saint Peter the Old") is a former Benedictine monastery built within the 12th century. A church had existed here (built on the place of a Roman temple) since Visigothic times and even, when the Moors hold Huesca, this church was in use. Christian troops conquered Huesca in 1096 and from 1117 on Benedictines with obvious ties to Cluny reconstructed the church and erected a monasterio here. Of course the Benedictian monastery needed a decent cloister. This got erected adjoining the church around 1140. Many of the capitals, carved in the style of the "Master of Agüero" (aka "Master of San Juan de la Peña"), are creations done during the renovation of San Pedro el Viejo end of the 19th century. The Flight to Egypt - seen twice. In the foreground is the old capital from the 12th century, while in the background the "copy", carved in the second half of the 19th century, can be seen.

In 1080, when Morlaàs was in its heydays, the building of this church started by Centulle V, Viscount of Béarn, who had to make an atonement. Morlaàs developed to an important "étape" on the Via Tolosana at that time. As the church was dedicated to St. Foy there was a kind of "link" to Conques. Later the pilgrimage business declined, the viscounts had moved away, wars arose.... The church burnt down in 1520, got severely damaged in 1569. During the French Revolution the church turned to a "Temple of Reason". The restorations of the 19th century saved the structure. Viollet-le-Duc, the influential "Inspecteur général des Edifices Diocésains" led the restoration of the portal. At all places, where he worked (eg "Carcasonne", "Vézelay"), he "recreated" and creatively "completed", what is a method, that is disputed meanwhile. The perfect condition of the portal is a result of this restoration. In the center of the tympanum Christ in Majesty flanked by the symbols of two of the four evangelists: Matthew (left) and John (right). Below are two biblical scene: The "Massacre of the Innocents" and the "Flight to Egypt". Matthew 2:13-16 "And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying" I have no idea, what the large group of ducks on the outer archivolt stands for.