Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: flutist

A priory had existed here already from 768 on. The Benedictine abbey was founded 1088, the church of today was built in the 12th century replacing a previous, smaller church, erected probably in the 10th century. The abbey belonged to the Sacra di San Michele Abbey in Piedmont (more than 700 kms east). The church was strongly fortified and had battlements, watchtowers and even moats at that time. The facade got heavily vandalized during the French Revolution, when the rioting revolutionists used hammers to destroy sculptures and carvings. Obviously the vandals could not enter the interior. All the capitals along the nave are undamaged. Here are three flutists. Actually I have never seen such complex flutes. Maybe one of the "pre-1800"-experts can tell me something about.

Saint-Étienne is the parish church of Macqueville, a village of a population of about 300. The western front looks very unspectacular, compared to most Romanesque churches of the Saintonge, but there are many corbels along the nave and a very nice side portal. Here is a row of corbels. Fltr - a flute player - a hare (between them is a dolio) - a beard-puller ande a contortionist.

Santeuil, just about 2kms south of Brignancourt (previous uplaod), hosts this wonderful parish church. "Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul" was built on a hillock between mid 12th century (apse, transept, bell tower) and the early 13th century (nave). It was erected in the very early Gothic style, that still was blended with many Romanesque parts. As the church never got damaged by wars or restauration, this is very much, how it must have looked 1250. Here, on a corbel, a nude beard-puller or a nude flutist, holding a pan flute, is falling down from heaven.

"Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul" is not mentioned in any written document before the 13th century. Most historians agree, that the church was built not earlier than in the first half of the 12th century. About a century later, the Romanesque transept and choir got demolished - and replaced by the large Gothic structure, seen here. The tower was erected within the 13th century. The church was added to the list of "monuments historique" already in 1862, but the restoration process started end of the 19th century. The church was added to the list of "monuments historique" already in 1862, but the restoration process started end of the 19th century. Of course a church like this needs perpetual care. The walls of the nave are well conserved. They are decorated between the corbels with very unusual reliefs. These carvings were well protected under the roof and are not weathered. Some of them are fantastic and very mysterious. Two flute players - grown together. The left one holds a pan flute, while the right flutist holds a kind of recorder.

A papal bull issued by Pope Alexander III in 1163 mentions this small church as part of the priory "Saint-Denis" in Vaux (sur Vienne), about 10 kms west). The church, dedicated to Sulpice le Pieux, was erected end of the 11th century in a primitive Romanesque style, not at all influenced by the more elegant "style saintonge". Along the western facade runs a gallery, what is rather unique. It is lined with stone benches and probably was the meeting place for the villagers over centuries. The church got remodeled during the 17th century, when it got enlarged and a chapel was added. During the French Revolution the church got damaged. The crumbling apse got demolished and rebuilt during a disputed restauration end of the 19th century. The church is small, but has about 20 carved capitals, that were obviously created by three different workshops, who all had their specific style. The capitals seen on the previous uploads were connected to pilgrimage/politics and were carevd in a very detailed style. This capital is carved in a very rough style by another workshop. A musician playing a vielle - two birds - a very nice flutist - and a dancer, who seems to dance the twist. If this is right, the names of the birds can only be "Chubby" and "Checker". Here is, what I mean: www.youtube.com/watch?v=im9XuJJXylw