Langast

EGLISE SAINT-GAL

St. Gal was born in Ireland circa 551. In the 570s, he left Ireland for Armorica where he landed in 574, accompanied by Colomba ( 521-597), his master. After travelling in Gaul and Switzerland, he returned to Langast circa 600. He died in Switzerland in 646

Before the restoration work undertaken between 1982 and 1995, it was thought the church of Langast dated from the early 16th century. The removal of the whitewash revealed the presence of much older structures - the herringbone pattern of the nave's wall and Romanesque windows - and wall paintings. This priory depended on the diocese of Dol-de-Bretagne and its foundation might date back to to the 6th century at the earliest and the 9th century at the latest. It became a parish church in the 12th century

Then the edifice underwent substantial alterations: the tower dates from the 14th or 15th century

The wall paintings

They were executed in three different campaigns

A campaign dating from the 10th century

These 9th- or 10th-century paintings adorn the the extrados of the large arcades separating the nave from the aisles (A to L, N to Q), with a few traces on the fourth north column, facing the nave. The paintings were in varying states of repair, sometimes barely legible or mere traces. In the areas where the gaps were too important, the lines and colours were restored, using a technique known as a trattegio, which makes them legible while distinguising them from the lost originals. By painting the gaps in watercolour it will be possible to erase them in the future

St. Michael (C) and Melchisedech, identified by inscriptions. Michael is carrying a small figure in a cloth. Only the child's bust is visible. This was a common way of representing the soul in the Middle Ages. Facing him, Melchisedech, wearing a chasuble, is holding up his hands, palms forwards, in a gesture of prayer or submission to God's will. At the two figures' feet, the two squares (B and E) are decorated with identical geometric patterns. This scene, probably unique in France, illustrates a passage from the Book of Enoch 2 and the small figure might well be the child Melchisedech

"Et il advint, quand l'enfant eut achevé quarante jours dans la demeure de Nêr, que le Seigneur dit à Michel: 'Descends sur la terre auprès de Nêr le prêtre, et prends l'enfant Melchisédech qui est avec lui et place-le en garde dans le paradis de l'Eden! Car déjà le temps approche, et moi je vais lâcher toutes les eaux sur la terre, et tout ce qui est sur terre périra, et je le restaurerai en une autre race, et Melchisédech sera la tête des prêtres dans cette race.' Et Michel se hâta de descendre en volant de nuit. Et Michel prit l'enfant Melchisédech en cette nuit et il le plaça dans le paradis de l'Eden."

"And it came to pass, when the child had spent forty days in the house of Ner, that the Lord said to Michael: "Go down to earth to Ner, the priest, and take Melchisedek who is with him and keep him safe in the paradise of Eden! For, the time has come: I will flood the earth and all that lives on earth shall perish and I will replenish the earth with a new race and Melchisedek shall be the chief priest of this new race." And Michael hastened down, in the darkness of night... And that night Michael took the child on his wings and placed him in the paradise of Eden."

All the angels are shown in an identical posture: standing and facing us, their arms folded on their chests and holding a closed book in their left hands. Their right hands are held up, palms facing forwards. They all wear long robes, tightened round their waists. Only the patterns of their robes and their hairdressing enable us to distinguish them

The 16th-, 17th- and 18th-century paintings

XVIème siècle:

There are only vestiges of this campaign: foliation (1-9) and (3). In frame 2 is a figure of St. Catherine of Alexandria, who can be recognized by her crown and the pommel of her sword

The most important part of this 16th-century campaign is a series of scenes from the life of Mary Magdalene (10). Eight scenes are still visible, in a rather poor state of repair and hardly legible

Mary Magdalene

Arrival at Marseille (?)

Baptism of the king and queen

Preaching in Marseille

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