Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Annunciation to the shepherds

A ford made it easier to cross the Adour in ancient times, later the Romans settled in the area. A Christian church may have existed as early as the 4th century Around 840 the Vikings led a devastating raid, but the town recovered and by the end of the 12th century the Count of Bigorre settled in his castle at Tarbes. At the end of the Middle Ages, the city consisted of six separate fortified towns. During the Wars of Religion in 1569, Jeanne d'Albret's troops burned the cathedral, the convents, and other churches, as well as the bishopric. The inhabitants were massacred. . The Jardin Massey is a large public garden built in the 19th century by Placide Massey horticulturist of the French King Louis Philippe I and the previous chief of the Palace of Versailles' gardens. The garden contains the cloister of the Saint-Sever-de-Rustan Abbey. Some elements of the cloister were originally built in the 15th century for the Carmelite monastery of Trie-sur-Baïse which had been severely damaged during the Huguenot Wars. These parts of the cloister were sold to the Abbey of Saint-Sever-de-Rustan for the restoration of the cloister there, as there as well a band of Huguenots, under the command of the Earl of Montgomery, had settled in the abbey for months, plundered the treasury and destroyed the church. The abbey got restored by the monks at the end of the 16th century and remodeled in the 18th century. It became state property in 1789 and was sold privately in 1792. In 1890, when numerous capitals had already been sold (some of which can be seen today in The Cloisters Museum in New York City), the remaining parts were bought by the city of Tarbes and moved to Jardin Massey. Nativity Annunciation to the shepherds Adoration of the Magi Flight into Egypt / Massacre of the Innocents

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as the capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art-loving, power-hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. The Baptistery of San Giovanni is the baptistery of Florence Cathedral. The time of origin is disputed, the church was consecrated in the 11th century. The church stands on the foundations of a Roman building. The first reliable source dates from 897, when an ecclesia (church) dedicated to John the Baptist and facing the bishop's palace is mentioned. Today's building dates from the 11th century at the earliest. The octagon had been a common shape for baptisteries for many centuries since early Christian times. The construction was finished in 1128. An octagonal lantern was added to the roof around 1150. It was enlarged with a rectangular entrance porch in 1202, leading into the original western entrance of the building, that in the 15th century became an apse, after the opening of the eastern door facing the western door of the cathedral by Lorenzo Ghiberti. Between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, three bronze double doors were added, with bronze and marble statues above them. In 1329 Andrea Pisano was awarded the commission to design the first set of doors. An antetype for the doors was probably the Gate of the Pisa Cathedral, done by Bonanno Pisano around 1180. The wax model and the gilding at the end were done by Andrea Pisano, whereas the bronze casting was executed by Venetian masters. It took six years to complete the doors. The gate wings consist of 28 panels. The south doors were originally installed in 1336 on the east side, facing the Duomo, and were transferred to their present location in 1452. There is an inscription on top of the door: Andreas Ugolini Nini de Pisis me fecit A.D. MCCCXXX ("Andrea Pisano made me in 1330"). The Nativity and the Annunciation to the shepherds.

In the course of the German eastward expansion settlers settled near an existing Slavic settlement. A village with a surrounding wall was created. In 1255 the "new" settlement of Kolberg received the town charter according to the "Lübsches Stadtrecht". In 1277 Kolberg became part of the Cammin Abbey, the bishop's secular domain. Kolberg probably belonged to the Hanseatic League and remained in this association until 1610. In this heyday of the town, salt production, salt trade and fishing were the main sources of income of Kolberg and brought great prosperity. In 1442, there was a conflict between the Bishop of Cammin and Kolberg, as a result of which the Bishop besieged the town, but Kolberg successfully repelled the attack. From 1530 the Reformation was introduced in Kolberg, and in 1534 the Catholic institutions in the town were abolished by a decision of the town council. In the 17th century, Kolberg depopulated due to the plague and the Thirty Years' War with its effects. In 1627 imperial troops occupied the town and fortified it. In 1631 Swedish troops conquered Kolberg after a five-month siege. Kolberg came to Brandenburg-Prussia with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, but was not given up by the Kingdom of Sweden until 1653. The Kołobrzeg Cathedral ("Bazylika konkatedralna Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Maryi Panny") was started around 1300. It was completed in the first stage in 1321 and had the form of a three-nave hall church. After that, the presbytery, two aisles and the tower were gradually built. After the Reformation in Pomerania, the church became Protestant in 1531. At the beginning of the 18th century, the cathedral was in very poor condition. Multiple sieges and enemy shelling and fires had severely damaged it. It was not until the end of the 19th century that the cathedral finally underwent extensive restoration. In March 1945, the church was severely damaged during the capture of Kolberg by Soviet troops. The vault of the nave collapsed, the entire church burned out. Until the 1960s, the Museum of Polish Arms used the half-destroyed church to display military objects. The reconstruction of the church began after the ruins were transferred to the Catholic Church in 1974. The baptismal font was cast in bronze by local craftsman Jan Alart in 1355. The font is supported by figures of four lions. On the side of it are 26 relief scenes from the life of Christ arranged in two horizontal rows. The Nativity scene is in the center. To the right outside the Annunciation, next to it the Visitation (the visit of Mary to Elizabeth) and to the left the Annunciation to the shepherds. A Latin inscription surrounds the baptismal font: (translated:) "In the year of our Lord 1355 made by Jan Alart".

Legends tell, that in 490, 492 and 493 the archangel Michael appeared to a shepherd and a bishop in front of a grotto. Archangel Michael instructing them to convert that cave into a Christian church. This grotto became the site of many pilgrimages since the early Middle Ages. It is said, that this is the oldest shrine in Western Europe When the Lombards successfully conquered southern Italy end of the 6th century, King Grimoald in 662 passed on the region to his son, Romuald I, who renovated the sanctuary and encouraged its use as a pilgrimage site. It got very popular for pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem and as well for pilgrims who had followed the Via Francigena to Rome and then continued to the grotto. Many Popes have been here, but as well Bridget of Sweden, Bernard of Clairvaux, Thomas Aquinas, Matilda of Tuscany, Otto III... Only about 100 meters south of the sanctuary is a complex of (once) three interconnected and partially nested buildings. The apse of the Church of San Pietro, the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and the "Tomba di Rotari" (aka "San Giovanni Battista in Tomba"). It was believed, that this was the mausoleum of the Lombardian King Rothari, but that was a misinterpretation. The consent now, is, that the 12th structure was a baptistery, dedicated to John the Baptist. There are some nice capitals inside the baptistery. Here is the "Annunciation to the shepherds".

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status +of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. - William II of Sicily built from 1172 here a fort-like complex of buildings, which included a cathedral, an archiepiscopal palace, a royal palace and a Benedictine monastery. In 1183 the monastery became the seat of the archdiocese of Monreale. The town then developed around this complex. According to a legend, William fell asleep while hunting. The Holy Virgin appeared to him in a dream, suggesting him to build a church here. After removing a tree, a treasure was found, whose coins were used to finance the construction. Well, it is much more likely that Monreale was founded in competition with the bishop of Palermo, who had commissioned the large Cathedral of Palermo. This would explain the vast dimensions and the splendour of the "Duomo di Monreale" (= "Cattedrale di Santa Maria Nuova"), that with the cloister, is the only building that survived the times. The cathedral´s large bronze doors were cast by Bonanno Pisano, who even signed "Bonannus civis pisanus me fecit". He was a well-known artist at his time and created as well the Porta di San Ranieri of the Pisa Cathedral. There are 42 different scenes on the bronze doors, here are three. The Magi on horsebacks following the Star of Bethlehem. The Annunciation to the shepherds (and the Star above them), below the Nativity - and the First Bath. The Flight into Egypt.

In 831 an "ecclesia plebeia" is mentioned here, dedicated to Saint Martin. Excavations proved, that earlier churches did exist on the same spot from about 500 on. The church of today was erected in the early 12th century. St. Martin is world famous for the painted ceiling inside, created by an unknown artist around 1109 to 1114. It is still almost complete. Only very few of these works have survived the times in Europe. The only such ceiling I have ever seen is in St. Michael, Hildesheim, Germany. The ceiling here consists of 153 square panels (9 rows of 17 panels) of about 90 cm sides. They were painted upright and then inserted into the ceiling. Actually the painting reads like a map. There is a kind of frame, as the 48 panels outer panels (apart from the corner fields) show scenes on water - an ocean. The corners have angels, that may symbolize the four winds (directions). The "inner" 105 panels depict scenes on "land". Here themes are the life of Jesus - and Saint Martin, whom the church is devoted to. Seen is the "Visitation", the "Annunciation to the shepherds", young Jesus adored by ox and ass, two of the three travelling Magi - and the Magi´s horses.

Augustodunum (today Autun) was founded during the reign of Augustus, after whom it was named. It was an important settlement, the Roman theather, partly unearthed, could seat about 15.000 people, there is a Roman temple, walls... But it is the Cathédrale Saint-Lazare and the wonderful carvings, that made me return again and again. There had been a church here earlier, that was just too small, when Autun became a center of pilgrimage, after relics of St. Lazarus were kept here since about 970. Just like Vezelay, 90kms north, where the relics of St. Lazarus´ sister St. Maria Magdalena were kept at that time. In 1120 it was decided to construct this larger and more suitable cathedral. At that time this construction was influenced by Cluny III, that was a little older. After severe damage during the Hundred Years' War, rebuilding and remodeling the romanesque structure started. The tympanum, a masterpiece, signed by Gislebertus, survived accidently pretty undamaged, as it was hidden under thick plaster for many decades. All along the nave are masterly capitals, created by Gislebertus and/or his workshop. Here in the center the "Annunciation of the Lord" and to the right the "Annunciation to the shepherds".

Nonantola Abbey was founded in 752 by Saint Anselm, brother-in-law of the Lombard king Aistulf. Pope Stephen II presented relics of Saint Sylvester to the abbey, so it was named Saint Silvestro de Nonantula. The abbey was already wealthy from the very beginning, in 780 Charlemagne endowed the abbey with many estates in Tuscany, where monks settled in Groppina (see "Pieve di San Pietro a Gropina"). In 883 the abbey was the place of a conference between Charlemagne´s great-grandson Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat") and Pope Marinus I. The prosperious life ended, when in 900 Hungarian troops looted and completely destroyed the abbey. Reconstruction began soon after and about a century later the "imperial monastery" was one of the most powerful abbey in Europe. Abbot Godeschalc had a new basilica built in 1058. At the beginning of the Investiture Conflict it sided with the emperor, but Matilda of Tuscany stepped in and forced the abbey to change sides. It declared itself openly for the papal party in 1111. The earthquake in 1117 damaged the abbey severely. The reconstruction started in 1121, so most of what is seen today is from the 12h century. The doorposts of the portal are covered with carvings. Some are attributed to the School of Wiligelmo. Wiligelmo and his workshop worked at that time as well in Modena, only 10kms southwest. Here is the "Annunciation to the shepherds" and the "Adoration of the Magi". The Magi (still) wear caps, some time later they get promoted to Kings and wear crowns, bringing them in a kind of lineage to the ruling Kings and Emperors of the middle ages.

Already Theodoric the Great, King of the Ostrogoths, may have funded a church, erected over the tomb of Saint Zeno, who, following the legends, was born in Mauretania and died around 380 in Verona. The erection of the present church began in the 9th century. Soon after San Zeno´s relics were translated into the new church. At that time Charlemagne´s son Pepin (aka "Pepin of Italy") resided in Verona and a large Benedictine monastery grew all around the church. When the Magyars invaded Italy in the early 10th century, the church got severely damaged, but the relics were not harmed, as they had been taken out and were hidden. In 967, a new church was built with the patronage of Otto I. On January 3, 1117, the church was damaged by an earthquake, that ruined so many buildings in Northern Italy. The church was restored and got enlarged in 1138. The façade is striking! It was created in two different stages. The portico and the portal were carved before 1138 by Niccolò (see "Duomo de Verona") and his school. During the second half of the 12th century Master Guglielmo ("Gugliemus") completed the facade. These reliefs, probably carved by Niccolò (and/or his school), depict: The "Annunciation", the "Visitation", the "Nativity". the "Annunciation to the shepherds" and the Magi talking to Herod. Mary has already this "etruscan" posture, that later was often used by Bonnano and Andrea Pisano (eg pulpits in the Baptistery and Duomo in Pisa).

Already Theodoric the Great, King of the Ostrogoths, may have funded a church, erected over the tomb of Saint Zeno, who, following the legends, was born in Mauretania and died around 380 in Verona. The erection of the present church began in the 9th century. Soon after San Zeno´s relics were translated into the new church. At that time Charlemagne´s son Pepin (aka "Pepin of Italy") resided in Verona and a large Benedictine monastery grew all around the church. When the Magyars invaded Italy in the early 10th century, the church got severely damaged, but the relics were not harmed, as they had been taken out and were hidden. In 967, a new church was built with the patronage of Otto I. On January 3, 1117, the church was damaged by an earthquake, that ruined so many buildings in Northern Italy. The church was restored and got enlarged in 1138. The façade is striking! It was created in two different stages. The portico and the portal were carved before 1138 by Niccolò (see "Duomo de Verona") and his school. During the second half of the 12th century Master Guglielmo ("Gugliemus") completed the facade. This is an overview of the left side´s reliefs. The two lowest reliefs are the "Theodoric-reliefs" (see previous upload). Above from left is the "Annunciation", "Visitation", the "Nativity". Then there is the "Annunciation to the shepherds" and the Magi talking to Herod. Above from left: The "Adoration of the Magi", the "Presentation of Jesus at the Temple" - and an angel talking to Jospeh. Above from left: The "Flight into Egypt" and the "Baptism of Jesus". Above from left: the "Kiss of Judas" and the Crucifixion.

The first cathedral here was consecrated by St. Zeno around 380 AD. This was replaced by a larger building already two centuries later. An earthquake and/or fire destroyed that structure. The basilica that got rebuilt was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117, that wrecked so many buildings in Veneto and Lombardy. The present "Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare" was built in 1117-38, but many renovations were made later. The two storied porch, of the cathedral´s façade, is embellished with sculptures, works of the sculptor Nicholaus (Niccolo), who as well worked at San Zeno in Verona, in Ferrara and Piacenza. Here is the tympanum. Left to the Madonna is the "Annunciation to the shepherds", to the right is the "Adoration of the Magi". Below are the virtues "Fides", "Caritas" and "Spes".

The construction of the "Duomo" began in 1064 by the architect Busketo, who set the model for the distinctive Pisan Romanesque style of architecture. When the construction of this cathedral started, Pisa was on a height of political (and financial) power. Pisa was an important commercial centre controlling large parts of the Mediterranean merchant fleet and navy. In 1017 Pisa had militarily supported the Sardinian "Giudicati" (regional kings) to defeat Saracen troops in the north of Sardinia. Between 1030 and 1035, Pisa defeated rival towns in Sicily. In 1051–1052 Jacopo Ciurini conquered Corsica. In 1063 Giovanni Orlando took Palermo from the Saracen. The gold treasure taken from the Saracens in Palermo allowed the Pisans to start the building of the cathedral. The bronze doors of the cathedral´s Porta San Ranieri survived the fire, that severely damaged the cathedral in 1595. The doors (see previous uploads) were sculpted by Bonanus of Pisa around 1180. Here is a detail: The "Annunciation to the shepherds". Below the shepherds, the midwives prepare the "First Bath", watched by Mary and Joseph. The inscription reads NATIVITAS DEI.

The first church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was built here on order of Lidoire, bishop of Tours from 337 to 371 (preceding Saint Martin). This church burnt down 561, it was restored by Gregory of Tours in 590. This church then got replaced by a Romanesque structure, that again burnt in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, who as well was Count of Anjou. The erection of the present cathedral started around 1170 The chancel was built 1236 to 1279, but the nave took longer to build. It was completed end of the 14th century, before the Gothic facade was finished about 100 years later. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir.

Since the times of Hugh Capet, the first King of the Franks of the House of Capet, Étampes was an important place. It was a crown domain between Paris and Orleans. Hugh´s son Robert II (aka "Robert the Pious") built a stronghold here and founded a collegiate here in the 11th century. The former collegiate church Notre-Dame-du-Fort was erected within the 12th century in (traditional) Romanesque and (modern) Gothic style. Only the crypt dates back to the earlier 10th century-church. Here the relics of the martyrs Cantius, Cantianus, and Cantianilla were kept. The popular saints were orphaned siblings beheaded during Diocletian's persecution. "Robert the Pious" had transferred the relics to Étampes from Milano. Meanwhile Notre-Dame-du-Fort serves the parish. In 1562, during the first War of Religions, the Calvinist troops raided and ransacked the church. Here is, what the vandals left of the tympanum over the western portal, erected within the 13th century. All carvings that could be reached during the fury iconoclasm are severely damaged. In case something was spared, it got smashed during the French Revolution. "The story" can still be seen. It starts in the left corner of the low tier (from left to right) - the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-39) - the Visitation (Luke 1:39–56) - the Nativity of Jesus - the Annunciation to the shepherds (Luke 2:8–14) - the Massacre of the Innocents (Matthew 2:16-18) - the Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15) The upper tier depicts in the center - the Adoration of the Magi. Mary seated on a wooden throne. - I am not sure about the left side. The Magi´s three horses? Is there a wing of an angel? - to the right are the Dreaming Magi.

The Sainte-Chapelle ("Holy Chapel") was part of the Palais de la Cité, residence of the French Royals between 10th and 14th century. The chapel was built, to house Louis IX's vast collection of relics, including the Crown of Thorns, the Image of Edessa and the point of the "Holy Lance" - and many more prominent relics. Saint Louis (aka Louis IX) had purchased the "Passion Relics" from Baldwin II, unfortunate emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, for 135,000 livres. The money was actually paid to the Venetians, to whom the relics had been pawned. Begun around 1239 and consecrated in 1248, the Sainte-Chapelle is considered among the highest achievements of the Gothic architecture. A fire damaged the chapel 1630, that got restored after that. The chapel suffered its most grievous destruction during the French Revolution, when the steeple got removed and many of the precious reliquaries were melted down. Reconstruction and restoration was done in the 1840s/1850s. Here are more than 600m² of stained glass, about 1/3 was destroyed and had to be replaced within the 19th century. The light is breathtaking! The sights are neck breaking. This is a fantastic place. This was a sensation. Absolutely impressing, when it was completed - and it still is. Here is a small detail. The Nativity - and the Annunciation to the shepherds.. sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr/

Notre Dame was a Cluniac priory, with a huge church, which was erected between 1059-1107. It was consecrated, when Pope Paschal II visited the priory. The church is important, as it was built parallel to Cluny III - and so has many similarities. It once was 122 meters long and had a nave and four aisles. There were five portals (like in younger Bourges) and two western towers. One of these towers collapsed already in 1204. Mid of the 16th century the nave got severely damaged by fire The priory existed upto the French Revolution. Some parts of the ruined church got converted to residential houses, the structure since then serves as a parish church. In 1840 there were plans, to demolish the building, but Prosper Mérimée stepped in - and so saved it. I had been here first time in April 2006, when I followed the Via Lemovicensis. The tympanum of the northermost, meanwhile bricked up portal has survived the demolishion. Under three swallow's nests, is Christ in a mandorla. Carved in a very dynamic style, that reminds me to Moissac and Soillac. Christ is flanked by saints and angles. Below from left to right: The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Nativity and The Annunciation to the shepherds.

Sainte-Eulalie, parish church of Benet, was erected in the 12th century, but renovated and altered in the 15th century. Some of the Romanesque elements of the western facade are weathered and vandalized. The higher the carvings, the less vandalized they are. Sainte-Eulalie is known, to have a "bible de pierre", a bible from stone, as the archivolts around the central window depict many biblical scenes. Here is the "Annunciation to the shepherds".