Capital - The Ascension
Capital - The Ascension
Published 2018-07-13T15:16:30+00:00
The Ascension, which takes place in Jerusalem, is the last of Christ's appearance after his resurrection. Christ is shown from the front, with his arms outstretched as he rises into the sky flanked by two angels who indicate his presence to the apostles and the Virgin Mary. This iconography differs from that hitherto found in the region, as can be seen on the typanum of the Miegeville portal of the Basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse, where jesus is shown in profile, borne away by angels.
The Musée des Augustins' collection of Romanesque sculpture is composed mainly of remnants from the three most significant religious buildings in Toulouse: the Monastery of La Daurade, the Collegiate Church of Saint Sernin and Saint Etienne Cathedral.
It was the choice the clerics (monks or canons) responsible for the upkeep of these religious buildings made to live as a community, that led to the construction of functional convent buildings, organised around large cloisters decorated with simple or elaborate sculpture.
As the capital of a powerful county and a fast growing economic, political and religious centre, in the 11th and 12th centuries, Toulouse enjoyed a context highly favourable to the birth of an original art movement. The quality, diversity and exceptional longevity of the movement place Toulouse firmly among the major centres of Romanesque art. Thus, the works in the Musée des Augustins constitute fundamental milestones for the history of sculpture.
Date published | 13/07/2018 |
Complexity | Easy |