Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: beard puller

Wilfred the Hairy (aka Guifré el Pilós), whom we just "met" as the founder of the nearby monastery in Sant Joan de les Abadesses, where his daughter Emma of Barcelona was the first abbess, founded the Monastery of Santa Maria in Ripoll in 879. Here his son Radulf de Barcelona was abbot. This was not only Wilfred´s family business, he was very successful in the political power game of that time. The first church was consecrated in 888, but as the monastery grew it was "reconsecrated" in 935, 977 and 1032. When Oliba de Besalú, as well a descendent of Wilfred, was abbot here (1008 - 1046), this was a cultural center. More than 250 books were on the shelves of the monastery´s library. The church was the burial place for the Counts of Besalú and Barcelona. Still today many tombs can be found in the transept, including that one of Wilfred the Hairy. The decline started within the 15th century. In 1428 it was severely damaged by an earthquake, the restoration was done in Gothic style. The church got ruined during the first Carlist War, the library burnt down, and the last monks had left. In 1847 part of the cloister and soon after, the abbot´s palace got demolished. The Bishop of Vic organized the rebuilding so that the church got consecrated again in 1893. The church of today is vastly a product of the reconstruction of the 19th century, but it may be "near" to the romanesque structure. The cloister got reconstructed end of the 19th century as well, but as only a part of it had been demolished, it still contains a lot of the original structure. The construction of the ground floor started in 1180 and it took until the early 15th century to complete it. The second-floor dates to the 15th and 16th centuries. Some of the capitals are sculptured by Jordi de Déu (aka Jordi Johan). Jordi de Déu (+1418), born on the island of Sicily, with greek roots, was sold as a slave to Catalan master carver Jaume Cascalls, who taught him sculpture. - I have been to Ripoll a couple of times, so I may add newer and older photos.

Wilfred the Hairy (aka Guifré el Pilós), whom we just "met" as the founder of the nearby monastery in Sant Joan de les Abadesses, where his daughter Emma of Barcelona was the first abbess, founded the Monastery of Santa Maria in Ripoll in 879. Here his son Radulf de Barcelona was abbot. This was not only Wilfred´s family business, he was very successful in the political power game of that time. The first church was consecrated in 888, but as the monastery grew it was "reconsecrated" in 935, 977 and 1032. When Oliba de Besalú, as well a descendent of Wilfred, was abbot here (1008 - 1046), this was a cultural center. More than 250 books were on the shelves of the monastery´s library. The church was the burial place for the Counts of Besalú and Barcelona. Still today many tombs can be found in the transept, including that one of Wilfred the Hairy. The decline started within the 15th century. In 1428 it was severely damaged by an earthquake, the restoration was done in Gothic style. The church got ruined during the first Carlist War, the library burnt down, and the last monks had left. In 1847 part of the cloister and soon after, the abbot´s palace got demolished. The Bishop of Vic organized the rebuilding so that the church got consecrated again in 1893. The church of today is vastly a product of the reconstruction of the 19th century, but it may be "near" to the romanesque structure. The cloister got reconstructed end of the 19th century as well, but as only a part of it had been demolished, it still contains a lot of the original structure. The construction of the ground floor started in 1180 and it took until the early 15th century to complete it. The second-floor dates to the 15th and 16th centuries. Some of the capitals are sculptured by Jordi de Déu (aka Jordi Johan). Jordi de Déu (+1418), born on the island of Sicily, with greek roots, was sold as a slave to Catalan master carver Jaume Cascalls, who taught him sculpture. - I have been to Ripoll a couple of times, so I may add newer (like this) and older photos.

The Benedictian monastery Sant Pere de Galligants was built, outside the city walls, from 962. The monastery in 1117 was united to the Abbey of Sainte-Marie de Lagrasse (now France, 170kms north), but kept an own abbot and so at least some autonomy. In 1362, when the monastery was enclosed within Girona´s city walls, it was redesigned to a more defensive shape. It started to decay from the 15th century, and in 1592 it was united to the also crumbling monasteries of Sant Miquel de Cruïlles and San Miguel de Fluviá. In 1835 the monastery was given up, the abbot and the last four monks left, so in 1857 the Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya moved into the empty buildings. Using the remains of on older church, the construction of the three nave basilica, seen here, facing to the main apse, started in 1130. As this is a museum now, there is no furniture inside.

The Benedictian monastery Sant Pere de Galligants was built, outside the city walls, from 962. The monastery in 1117 was united to the Abbey of Sainte-Marie de Lagrasse (now France, 170kms north), but kept an own abbot and so at least some autonomy. In 1362, when the monastery was enclosed within Girona´s city walls, it was redesigned to a more defensive shape. It started to decay from the 15th century, and in 1592 it was united to the also crumbling monasteries of Sant Miquel de Cruïlles and San Miguel de Fluviá. In 1835 the monastery was given up, the abbot and the last four monks left. In 1857 the Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya moved in. Using the remains of on older church, the construction of the three nave basilica started in 1130. On the right side of the main portal of the basilica (just seen), now the entrance to the museum, is this dangerous looking beast, with a round, vicious mouth full of teeth. P.S. On the right side is NO dodo. This is a lion´s tail, imitating a dodo.

The Benedictian monastery Sant Pere de Galligants was built, outside the city walls, from 962. The monastery in 1117 was united to the Abbey of Sainte-Marie de Lagrasse (now France, 170kms north), but kept an own abbot and so at least some autonomy. In 1362, when the monastery was enclosed within Girona´s city walls, it was redesigned to a more defensive shape. It started to decay from the 15th century, and in 1592 it was united to the also crumbling monasteries of Sant Miquel de Cruïlles and San Miguel de Fluviá. In 1835 the monastery was given up, the abbot and the last four monks left. In 1857 the Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya moved in. Using the remains of on older church, the construction of the three nave basilica started in 1130. On the left side of the main portal of the basilica (just seen), now the entrance to the museum, is this long nosed person, pulling his stylish beard, a gesture that is often connoted to masturbation.

Saint-Étienne is the parish church of Macqueville, a village of a population of about 300. The western front looks very unspectacular, compared to most Romanesque churches of the Saintonge, but there are many corbels along the nave and a very nice side portal. Here is a row of corbels. Fltr - a flute player - a hare (between them is a dolio) - a beard-puller ande a contortionist.

Worms, one of the oldest towns in Germany, was an early bishopric in the valley of the Rhine river and an important palatinate of Charlemagne, who built a palace here. Burchard of Worms, bishop since 1000, had the older carolingian church dismantled and started the construction of the cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. In 1018 this church got consecrated - the first time. In 1122 the Concordat of Worms was signed here, ending the Investiture Controversy. In 1521 the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, took place here, presided by Emperor Charles V. Martin Luther said the sentence "Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me" here. After that he was declared an outlaw. Parts of the basilica collapsed and got rebuilt. The most parts of the cathedral seen today was constructed between 1125 and the end of that century. The church has two choirs (east and west) and is 110 meters long. During the Nine Years' War, the french troops tried to blew up the building, but failed. The façade of western choir is clearly influenced by architectural ideas from Burgundy, probably from Cluny. So all around the choir are lots of carvings showing strange creatures making grimaces to the people on the ground - and small men in anger and in danger. Two small men in a brawl. They have each other by the beards - and so are "beardpullers". Actually this theme was very popular within the 12th century, especially in Burgundy and the Auvergne. I am sure about the beards, that is easy. I am not sure what they are holding or pulling with the other hands.

The Pieve di San Pietro a Gropina is located on a hill in the hamlet Gropina, that meanwhile belongs to Loro Ciuffenna. A chapel existed here already in the 4th century. Soon after Charlemagne had donated the area to the Nonantola Abbey, Benedictian monks erected a church here end of the 8th century. The church of today was probably built within the 12th century. At that time this was one of the wealthiest parish church with the diocese, having about 30 depending churches. The nave is flanked by pillars, that all have sculpted capitals. The capitals of left and right side differ in style. Within some decades at least two workshops have worked here. Maybe even more. This capital is as well attribute this to "Wiligelmo da Modena" (aka "Gulielmo da Modena", "Guglielmo da Modena") - or a workshop by some scholars. Wiligelmo (active ~ 1099 - 1120) was a sculptor who was influenced by the Romanesque style of Southern France. I do see parallels... Sexuality is quite a theme in this church (see the pulpit)! This beardpuller stands for sinful masturbation.

The Pieve di San Pietro a Gropina is located on a hill in the hamlet Gropina, that meanwhile belongs to Loro Ciuffenna. A chapel existed here already in the 4th century. Soon after Charlemagne had donated the area to the Nonantola Abbey, Benedictian monks erected a church here end of the 8th century. The church of today was probably built within the 12th century. At that time this was one of the wealthiest parish church with the diocese, having about 30 depending churches. The nave is flanked by pillars, that all have sculpted capitals. The capitals of left and right side differ in style. Within some decades at least two workshops have worked here. Maybe even more. This capital is as well attribute this to "Wiligelmo da Modena" (aka "Gulielmo da Modena", "Guglielmo da Modena") - or a workshop by some scholars. Wiligelmo (active ~ 1099 - 1120) was a sculptor who was influenced by the Romanesque style of Southern France. I do see parallels... Sexuality is quite a theme in this church (see the pulpit)! This capital depicts two Luxuriae, standing for sinful lust, and two beardpullers, connected to - as well sinful - masturbation.

Benedictine monks, escaping the Norman raids in the Normandie, settled here in 924 and founded the monastery. The large church was erected within the 12th and 13th century. As the monks had brought the valuable relics of Saint Laumer, Saint Lubin, Saint Mary of Egypt and a fragment of the True Cross this was a place of medieval pilgrimage. The church was dedicated to Saint Laumer, the convent existed up to the French Revolution. Since then it serves the parish, dedicated now to Saint Nicholas, remembering a nearby church, that got demolished after the Revolution. Some really experienced masters carved the capitals near the crossing. Here a gentleman pulls his beard, contemplating about a complex problem. Or is he a dreaming star gazer.

Santeuil, just about 2kms south of Brignancourt (previous uplaod), hosts this wonderful parish church. "Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul" was built on a hillock between mid 12th century (apse, transept, bell tower) and the early 13th century (nave). It was erected in the very early Gothic style, that still was blended with many Romanesque parts. As the church never got damaged by wars or restauration, this is very much, how it must have looked 1250. Here, on a corbel, a nude beard-puller or a nude flutist, holding a pan flute, is falling down from heaven.

The parish church "Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption" in the center of Tamerville has a remarkable Romanesque tower. The church (and the tower) were erected mid 12th century, but the church got enlarged and altered over the time. The church was dedicated to Saint Mayeul (aka "Mayeul de Cluny", "Majolus of Cluny"). Saint Mayeul, important abbot of Cluny, built Cluny II. There must have been a connection to the Burgundy in the early times. Many corbels are under the roof of the Romanesque tower and all along the nave. Here is a "beard puller".

Colombiers is a small village (pop. 300) in the former marshes of the Seugne river. Life must be hard here in medieval times. Saint-Maclou, the village´s parish church, was erected in the 12th century. It was the church of a priory, dependent from the Benedictian Abbaye Saint-Sauveur in Charroux. The church got altered and modified during the Gothic period (15th.), when it lost its once Romanesque portal. Single nave churches, like Saint-Maclou, are typical for the villages of the Saintonge. They may not look spectacular on the first sight. But here in Colombiers are some extraordenary carvings. Most of the frieze-like capitals are similar to the carvings in Marinac. The style differs, but the "story" is the same. In an impenetrable djungle of entwining vines humans fight creatures, lurking through the foliage. A close up of the symmetricially designed capital, depicting beard pullers and eagles.

Colombiers is a small village (pop. 300) in the former marshes of the Seugne river. Life must be hard here in medieval times. Saint-Maclou, the village´s parish church, was erected in the 12th century. It was the church of a priory, dependent from the Benedictian Abbaye Saint-Sauveur in Charroux. The church got altered and modified during the Gothic period (15th.), when it lost its once Romanesque portal. Single nave churches, like Saint-Maclou, are typical for the villages of the Saintonge. They may not look spectacular on the first sight.But here in Colombiers are some extraordenary carvings. Most of the frieze-like capitals are similar to the carvings in Marinac. The style differs, but the "story" is the same. In an impenetrable djungle of entwining vines humans fight creatures, lurking through the foliage. A symmetricially designed capital (righ), depicting beard pullers. On the left side is a person with a nicely combed beard in the center and a very strange scene on the right, involving a person with an amputated shank.