Croix du 17e siècle
MonumentHidden Treasure
Croix du 17e siècle, located in Malestroit (Département 56), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Malestroit, Département 56, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.8115, -2.3850
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00091418
Standing in the heart of Malestroit, this monumental 17th-century cross features a rare double-sided sculpted decoration: Christ surrounded by Saint John and the Virgin on one side, the Virgin alone on the other, crowned by an elegant triangular pediment.
History
At the bend in a cobbled street in Malestroit, a medieval village in Morbihan nestling on the banks of the River Oust, stands a monumental cross that discreetly bears witness to the religious fervour of 17th-century Brittany. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1935, this work of stone combines formal sobriety and iconographic richness in a balance typical of Breton sacred art of the period. What immediately sets this cross apart from the multitude of Breton calvaries is the quality of its double-sided sculpture. Visitors touring the cross will discover two distinct iconographic programmes: on one side, Christ on the Cross flanked by Saint John the Evangelist and the Virgin Mary, the classic composition of the Deploration; on the other, the Virgin alone, a figure of mediation and prayer, to whom the faithful addressed themselves individually. This dialogue between the two faces invites you to take a contemplative stroll around the monument. The visitor experience is that of an intimate face-to-face encounter with the popular devotion of the Ancien Régime. There are no crowds or museographic displays here: the cross is seen in its original urban context, surrounded by the timber-framed houses and alleyways characteristic of Malestroit. The silence and patina of the grey stone give the whole place a quiet, almost timeless atmosphere. Malestroit itself is well worth a visit: its Renaissance mansions, Saint-Gilles church and carved animal decorations make it one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Brittany. The 17th-century cross is a natural part of this rich heritage, offering walkers another milestone in a coherent architectural and historical tour.
Architecture
The monumental cross at Malestroit adopts a composition typical of 17th-century Breton funerary and devotional art: a slender shaft resting on a stepped base, topped by a cross-brace bearing the sculpted figures. The whole is crowned by a triangular pediment, a classically inspired feature that distinguishes this monument from the more rustic calvaries of the Breton countryside and suggests the work of a craftsman trained in the ornamental conventions of his time. The main feature is the double-sided sculpted programme. The front features a Crucifixion with, at the foot or in medallions, the figures of Saint John the Evangelist and the Virgin Mary - a theological composition recalling the Passion of Christ and the communion of saints. The reverse is devoted to the Virgin alone, probably a Virgin of Pity or an Immaculate Conception, devotional figures that were particularly popular in Brittany after the great Jesuit missions. This double programme enabled the faithful to approach the monument from different sides depending on the nature of their prayer. The stone used is probably local granite, a material that is omnipresent in Breton architecture and sculpture, renowned for its hardness and resistance to the elements, which partly explains the good conservation of the reliefs despite several centuries of exposure to the elements. The sober, precise surface treatment reveals the hand of a craftsman who has mastered the codes of regional religious sculpture.
Related Figures
Artisan sculpteur breton anonyme du XVIIe siècle, auteur probable du programme iconographiqueMembres de la fabrique paroissiale de Malestroit, commanditaires présumés de l'œuvreInspecteurs des Monuments historiques ayant instruit le dossier d'inscription en 1935
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Croix du 17e siècle located?
Croix du 17e siècle is located in Malestroit, Département 56 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Croix du 17e siècle built?
Croix du 17e siècle dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Croix du 17e siècle open to visitors?
Croix du 17e siècle is currently closed to visitors.