The Cathedrals of Southern FranceMansfield, M. F. (Milburg Francisco)
History
The Cathedrals of Southern France
Mansfield, M. F. (Milburg Francisco)
Cathedrals -- France; France -- Description and travel
A tomb of Bishop Laurent Buti (d. 1710) is set against the wall, where
the apse adjoins the nave.
Rearward on the high-altar is a fine painting by an unknown artist of
the Italian school.
The old-time cathedral of St. Siffrein was plainly not of the
poverty-stricken class, as evinced by the various accessories and
details of ornamentation mentioned above. It had, moreover, in
conjunction with it, a most magnificent and truly palatial episcopal
residence, built by a former cardinal-bishop, Alexandri Bichi, in 1640.
To-day it serves the functions of the _Palais de Justice_ and a prison;
in the latter instance certainly a fall from its hitherto high estate.
Built about by this ancient residence of the prelates of the Church is
also yet to be seen, in much if not quite all of its pristine glory, a
_Gallo-Romain arc de Triomphe_ of considerable proportions and much
beauty of outline and ornament.
As to period, Prosper Mérimée, to whom the preservation of the ancient
monuments of France is largely due, has said that it is contemporary
with its compeer at Orange (first or second century).
The Porte d'Orange, in the Grande Rue, is the only _relique_ left at
Carpentras of the ancient city ramparts built in the fourteenth century
by Pope Innocent VI.
XII
CATHÉDRALE DE VAISON
The Provençal town of Vaison, like Carpentras and Cavaillon, is really
of the basin of the Rhône, rather than of the region of the snow-crowned
Alps which form its background. It is of little interest to-day as a
cathedral city, though the see dates from a foundation of the fourth
century, by St. Aubin, until the suppression of 1790.
Its former cathedral is hardly the equal of many others which have
supported episcopal dignity, but it has a few accessories and attributes
which make it notable.
Its nave is finely vaulted, and there is an eleventh-century cloister,
which flanks the main body of the church on the left, which would be
remarked under any circumstances.
The cloister, though practically a ruin,--but a well preserved
one,--shows in its construction many beautiful Gallo-Romain and early
Gothic columns which are exceedingly beautiful in their proportions. In
this cloister, also, are some fragments of early Christian tombs, which
will offer unlimited suggestion to the archæologist, but which to the
lover of art and architecture are quite unappealing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account