A Treatise on Chancel Screens and Rood Lofts: Their Antiquity, Use, and Symbolic SignificationPugin, Augustus Welby Northmore
History
A Treatise on Chancel Screens and Rood Lofts: Their Antiquity, Use, and Symbolic Signification
Pugin, Augustus Welby Northmore
Screens (Church decoration)
This jubé, which is still standing, was erected in the early part of the
sixteenth century. It is divided into three open arches, by clustered
pinnacles, with tabernacle-work and imagery. The centre doorway into
choir is surmounted by richly flamboyant tracery; on either side are two
altars.
CATHEDRAL OF TROYES.
The jubé was supported by eight pillars; on either side of the choir
entrance an altar; it was ascended by a staircase on the Gospel side.
The following notice respecting the jubé occurs in the records of the
cathedral:—
"En 1382, le chapitre fit marché pour la construction du jubé avec Henri
Nardau et Henri de Bruxelles, moyennant cinq sous par jour, ou un mouton
d'or par semaine. La première pierre fut posée et bénie par l'Evêque
Pierre d'Arcys, le 22 Avril, 1383; il donna la somme de cinq livres pour
présent; l'ouvrage ne fut cependant commencé qu'en 1385, et achevé
entièrement qu'en 1400. L'image de S. Pierre, qui était au côté de la
porte, fut faite par Maître Drouin de Mantes, moyennant cinq livres, et
celle de S. Paul, par Maître Gérard, qui eut six livres; quatre
chanoines firent les frais de ces statues.
"On lit dans les comptes de l'œuvre de 1383, l'article suivant, qui
prouverait qu'un concours avait été ouvert pour le projet du jubé:—
"'Primo pour ung pourtrait fait en parchemin pour ledit jubé, par Henry
de Bruisselles, maçon, don commend. de Messigneurs pour monstrer aux
bourgois, et aux ouvriers de la ville encontre ung aultre pourtrait,
fait par Michelin le maçon, auquel pourtrait, fait par ledit Henry,
lesdiz bourgois et ouvriers se sont tenus pour être le meilleur pour ce
paie audit Henry don commend. de Messigneurs, xx s.'"
This screen remained perfect till 1793, when it was destroyed by the
revolutionists.
It is worthy of remark that the ancient altar, erected by Bishop Odard
Henequin, surrounded with curtains, supported by rods attached to brass
pillars surmounted by angels, was demolished by the chapter in 1780, to
substitute one of modern design; and within twelve years from that time
the clergy were dispersed, and the church in the hands of the infidels.
Behind this high altar was a raised loft of carved wood-work, richly
painted and gilt, in which the shrines of S. Helene and S. Savinien were
placed. The access to this loft was by a circular staircase on the
Gospel side, and a corresponding one to descend on the Epistle, to
prevent confusion when great numbers of the faithful visited the relics
or the feasts.
The great relics of the Sainte Chapelle, at Paris, were reserved in a
similar loft behind the high altar, and the circular staircases, of
beautiful design, have been recovered, and restored to their original
destination.
_Account of the Jubés formerly standing in the Churches of Troyes._
That of the cathedral already described.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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