Rosheim - Saints-Pierre-et-Paul

The construction of the "Église Saints-Pierre-et-Paul" started around 1150. The basilica-style church has the classical layout of a latin cross and is known for the carvings.

Size and the quality of some of them are really breathtaking.

There are different artistic styles here. I seems like four master-carvers were given a chance, to show their talents and so they used this as a showcase.

Here a really fat, bearded, naked atlas. He looks bored and is uncomfortably pressed into a corner, holding the weight of the vault. He is in a very unergonomic body posture, but if he would not press the knees together - he would for sure fall down to the ground - and burst.

Please compare this carving to an atlas from Sélestat (Schlettstadt), only 30kms south - and have in mind, that both corbels are about the same age (+/-30 years).

www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/5365376432/

Sorry for the bad quality of the photo..