Saillac - Saint Jean Baptiste

Saillac, a small village south of Collonges-la-Rouge, has a remarkable parish church. Saint Jean Baptist was originally built within the 12th century. Though the church got fortified later, it suffered a lot of damage during the Wars of Religion and the French Revolution. What can be seen today is the result of major renovations carried out during the 19th and 20th century.

The polychrome tympanum that survived the times dpicts the Adoration of the Magi (see previous uploads). The lintel is supported by a trumeau with twisted bands of hounds chasing a deer. Here is a detail.

Actually this is a battue, here is one of the hunters´ helper - and the deer. The helper´s task is to frighten the game with the flag and chase it to the hunter.

The information given locally calls this style "languedocien". It is an interesting work, but may be added within the last century.