Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: squire

Prache´s "Ile de France Romane". Anne Prache mentions, that in the hamlet of Mervilliers is a former church with a remarkable tympanum. In found a large farm in Mervilliers, entered and tried to find anybody to ask. But there was nobody at home. This was private property and I did feel uneasy, walking around, knocking on doors and shouting "Allo" and "Coucou"...... I finally found a small wooden garden gate. I pushed it open, entered, turned around - and there was the tympanum (previous upload). Here is a closer look on the tympanum´s left side. A knight in full armour makes a donation to Saint George (only George´s hand can be seen), while his squire on the left holds the knight´s horse. Some see this as the infeudation of a knight, what I doubt. The artistic style is not really elegant, but a bit rough. Note the oversized heads and hands. Here is a French website about the tympanum: jfbradu.free.fr/mervilliers/index-mervilliers.htm

Walking the Via Turonensis I had two books with me. One was a little booklet, telling me, where to turn left or right. The most important (absolut recommendable!) book was Anne Prache´s "Ile de France Romane". Anne Prache mentions, that in the hamlet of Mervilliers is a former church with a remarkable tympanum. In found a large farm in Mervilliers, entered and tried to find anybody to ask. But there was nobody at home. This was private property and I did feel uneasy, walking around, knocking on doors and shouting "Allo" and "Coucou"...... I left the farm, finally found a small wooden garden gate. I pushed it open, entered, turned around - and there was the tympanum. Here is a closer look now. The tympanum was probably created within the 12th century. There are two "tiers". In heaven - Crowned God in a blessing gesture, holding the bible flanked by two angels swinging censers. Below - on the ground has two parts. On the left the laity (a knight and squire) Saint George seated on a throne in the center, a priest and a monk on the right side. Here is a French website about the tympanum: jfbradu.free.fr/mervilliers/index-mervilliers.htm

The place belonged to the Abbey Saint-Étienne in Baignes (16kms south) end of the 11th century, when the nave of Saint-Martin was built. The apse was added within the 12th century. When in 1953 conservators washed and peeled off the last coat of white paint and plaster from the 12th century walls of the apse, they discovered - graffitti! When in the 12th century the walls were completed, but not yet covered with plaster, some unknown person covered the side walls with graffiti. Over square meters! On the southern side (seen here) are sketches of warlike situations. A knight and his squire. Remind me on Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.