Croix du cimetière
MonumentHidden Treasure
Croix du cimetière, located in Bain-de-Bretagne (Département 35), 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
- Bain-de-Bretagne, Département 35, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.8408, -1.6778
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00090499
At the heart of the cemetery in Bain-de-Bretagne, this 15th-century Gothic cross, listed as a Historic Monument since 1908, reveals a four-lobed crown of rare elegance sculpted with sacred figures.
History
A discreet stone sentinel in the cemetery of Bain-de-Bretagne, the 15th-century monumental cross is one of those treasures of Brittany's rural heritage that can be discovered with the emotion of an attentive walker. While the great cathedrals are eye-catching, it is often these small-scale works, crafted with meticulous care by local artisans, that best encapsulate the spirituality and craftsmanship of an era. What makes this cross truly unique is the quality of its four-lobed crown, the centrepiece of a sculpted ensemble that has withstood the ravages of time. The two sides of the cross display a remarkably coherent iconographic programme: on one side, Christ on the Cross framed by the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene, a composition reminiscent of the traditional Calvary of Breton statuary; on the other, the Virgin and Child with her hieratic tenderness, reminiscent of the Pietà and popular devotional statues so common in the parishes of Ille-et-Vilaine. The visit is a natural part of a contemplative stroll. The cemetery, the setting par excellence for meditation on life and death, offers this cross a setting charged with meaning. The low-angled light of the morning or late afternoon reveals the relief of the stone with particular acuity, bringing out the folds of the drapery and the peaceful expressions of the sculpted figures. Bain-de-Bretagne, a dynamic market town in the south of Ille-et-Vilaine, has a rare example of late Gothic sculpture in a rural setting in its parish cemetery, which is all the more precious given that many of its counterparts have disappeared over the centuries. The cross, reassembled on a modern shaft, continues its age-old mission: to mark, in stone, the boundary between the world of the living and that of the dead.
Architecture
The cross at Bain-de-Bretagne belongs to the type of funerary cross with a sculpted crown, typical of Breton and Norman artistic production in the late Middle Ages. Its most remarkable feature is its four-lobed crown, a geometric shape derived from Gothic decorative vocabulary, consisting of four radiating lobes framing the scenes carved in bas-relief or in the round. This shape, which is both architectural and decorative, allows the cross to be seen from its two main sides. The western side shows the Calvary group: the crucified Christ, the central figure of the composition, is flanked by the Virgin Mary, represented in her traditional maternal grief (Mater Dolorosa), and Mary Magdalene, whose iconography recalls her role as the first witness of the Resurrection. This sculpted triptych is part of the great tradition of Breton Calvaries, the most accomplished examples of which can be found in Guimiliau, Pleyben and Saint-Thégonnec. The eastern side features the Virgin and Child, an image of tenderness and intercession, reminding the faithful entering the cemetery of the promise of eternal life. The current, modern shaft and the square base on which it rests are the elements of the restoration that have enabled the whole to regain its verticality. The stone used is probably local granite or shell limestone, traditional building materials in Ille-et-Vilaine. Despite the centuries, the sculptures are still sufficiently legible to testify to the technical mastery of the 15th-century stonemasons.
Related Figures
Artisans tailleurs de pierre bretons du XVe siècle (sculpteurs anonymes de la croix)Chanoines et curés de la paroisse de Bain-de-Bretagne (commanditaires présumés)Inspecteurs des Monuments Historiques (responsables du classement de 1908)Anne de Bretagne (duchesse de Bretagne, contemporaine de l'érection de la croix, figure tutélaire de l'art breton de la période)
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Croix du cimetière located?
Croix du cimetière is located in Bain-de-Bretagne, Département 35 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Croix du cimetière built?
Croix du cimetière dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Croix du cimetière open to visitors?
Croix du cimetière is currently closed to visitors.
