Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais
Church of Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais | ||
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Église Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais | ||
Style French Baroque (the entrance façade and a few other elements) and Gothic | |
Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais (French pronunciation:
History
A church dedicated to Saints
Construction of the present church began in 1494, but was delayed by the
During the 17th and 18th century the church was attended by many members of the aristocratic families who lived in the Marais, including Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné, and the Chancellor of Louis XIV, Michel Le Tellier, whose funeral monument is found in the church.
Beginning in 1653, the church employed and sheltered the
In the 18th century, the facade of the church was greatly admired, though it was nearly blocked from view by a row of houses. Voltaire wrote, "It is a masterpiece which is lacking nothing except a place from which to see it." The houses blocking the view were finally demolished in 1854, opening up the view of the facade.[4]
During the French Revolution, the church was emptied of many of its treasures and turned into a Temple of Reason and Youth, before being returned to the Church in 1802.
On 29 March 1918, a German shell, fired by the long-range "Paris Gun", fell on the church, killing 91 people and wounding 68 others; the explosion collapsed the roof when a Good Friday service was in progress. This was the worst single incident involving a loss of civilian lives during the German bombardment of Paris in 1918.[5]
In 1975 the church became the headquarters of the
Five new stained glass windows by Sylvie Gaudin were added to the southwest chevet of the church in 1993–95. Another series of six windows by Claude Courageux was added in the early 2000s in the upper level of the church, in the south nave, the transept and the choir, replacing those destroyed over the centuries.[6]
Facade
The facade of the church was begun in 1616, well after the nave of the church, with the cornerstone laid by Louis XIII. The design was by
Since the Middle Ages, an elm tree has been planted in front of the church; it served as a meeting place, and a place where disputes were sometimes settled by judges. The trees were replanted regularly over the centuries. Carvings of the trees from earlier centuries are found on the walls of some of the neighboring buildings.
The nave of the church (1600–1620) is notable for its dramatic height and the simplicity and purity of its lines. While the lower level of the nave is late gothic, the upper level of the nave shows the influence of the Renaissance, with large semi-circular arches containing a series of large stained glass windows, filling the church with light. The upper windows are 21st-century, by Claude Courageux, illustrating the story of Adam and Eve, Noah's ark, and the patriarchs and their spouses. The ceiling of the nave, where the arches of the walls come together in an elaborate embroidery, symbolizes the vaults of heaven.
Choir stalls
The wooden choir stalls (16th–17th century), from the reigns of
Chapel of the Virgin
The chapel of the Virgin, at the back of the church, has a dramatic late gothic vaulted ceiling, featuring a hanging crown of stone 2.5 meters in diameter, and abstract designs resembling flames. The room is often used for silent meditation by church visitors. The chapel has some of the oldest stained glass windows in the flamboyant gothic style, made by Jean Chastellain in 1517, illustrating the life of the Virgin Mary.[4] Another remarkable window by Chastellain, "The Judgement of Solomon", made in 1533 in the colorful Renaissance style, is found in a side chapel.[citation needed]
Painting and sculpture
The church contains a number of notable works of art.
- A painting by the Venetian artist Sebastiano Ricci (1659–1734), Saint Gregory the Great and Saint Vital intercede for the souls in Pugatory, located in the Chapel of Saint Philomene. This was brought from Venice to Paris by Napoleon after his Italian campaign.
- The paintings The Beheading of John the Baptist and The Adoration of the Magi by Claude Vignon (1593–1670), located in the Chapel of the Virgin.
- A statue of Christ carved in oak by Antoine-Augustin Préault (1809–1879) in the Chapel of the Virgin.
- Statues from the funeral monument of Michel Le Tellier (1603–1685) the Chancellor of Louis XIV, by Pierre Mazeline (1632–1685) and Simon Hurtelle (1648–1724). The figures include the Chancellor, in prayer; a weeping 'genie' praying at his feet; and two draped figures representing Faith and Religion. Two other figures from the group, Justice and Prudence, are found in the Louvre.
Gallery
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Side chapel
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the Chapel of the Virgin
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Detail from the Wisdom of Solomon by Jean Chastellain (1533)
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Funeral monument of Michel Le Tellier (1685)
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wrought-iron gate to a chapel
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carved bathing scene on a choir stall
Organ and the Couperin family
The church is one of the great shrines of organ music, thanks to the Couperin family; eight members of the family were organists there from 1656 until 1826. They included Louis Couperin (1626–1661), and François Couperin (1668–1733) authors of celebrated masses and other compositions for the instrument. The grand organ of Couperin is still in place on the Tribune above the entrance at the back of the church. The first organ was constructed by Mathis Languhedul of Flanders in 1601; followed by new organ made by the French dynasty of Pierre, Alexandre and François Thierry, between 1649 and 1714; then rebuilt by François-Henri Cliquot in 1769, with many restorations over the following years. The organ itself is a registered historic landmark.[7]
Access
Located near the Pont Marie .
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It is served by lines 1, 7, and 11.
See also
- Paris in the 17th century
- Pierre et Luce
- List of historic churches in Paris
Notes and citations
- ^ Dumoulin 2010, p. 60.
- ^ Huisman, G. & Poisson, G. (1966) Les monuments de Paris. Paris: Hachette; pp. 98–99
- ^ Huisman, G. & Poisson, G. (1966); pp. 169–70
- ^ a b c d Dumoulin 2010, p. 61.
- ^ Zaloga, S. J. (2018) Superguns 1854–1991. pp. 17
- ^ L'Eglise Saint-Gervais, Sources Vives (2001), pages 75-88
- ^ Sources Vives, L'èglise Saint-Gervais, pages 119-123
Bibliography
- Dumoulin, Aline (2010). Églises de Paris. Éditions Massin. ISBN 978-2-7072-0683-1.
- Fierro, Alfred (1996). Histoire et dictionnaire de Paris. Robert Laffont. ISBN 2-221-07862-4.
- L'Église Saint-Gervais. Sources Vives - Fraternités Monastiques de Jérusalem. 2001.