Mayenne

The chapel dedicated to Saint Leonard, in the northern part of the town of Mayenne, is of Romanesque origin. It marks the site of the primitive town. Derelict for decades, it has just been bought by the town council and will be restored. The interior is decorated with mural paintings probably dating back to the 14th century.

THE MURAL PAINTINGS

1) Knight in armour:

The knight is wearing a hauberk that extends to his upper thighs. His legs are covered by mail chausses but there are genouillieres and jambarts of iron covering the knees and lower legs and plate cuissarts protecting his thighs. The sword typical of this period (14th century) is carried on a sword belt hung over the hips.

2)

Lawrence is one of the most popular saints of the Roman Church. He was born in Huesca, Spain in the 3rd century. He became an archdeacon of Rome and "keeper of the treasures of the church." However, Christians were then the victims of persecutions by Emperor Valerian and on 6 August 258, the emperor had Pope Saint Sixtus II and six deacons beheaded, leaving only Lawrence. According to legend, before his death Pope Sixtus had reassured Lawrence that they would be reunited in four days. Lawrence spent this time dispersing the material wealth of the Church before the Roman authorities could lay their hands on it. On 10 August Lawrence was ordered to appear for his execution, and to bring the treasure with which he had been entrusted. When he arrived, the archdeacon was accompanied by a multitude of Rome's crippled, blind, and sick; he announced that these were the true treasure of the Church. He was martyred on 10 August 258; cooked to death on a gridiron.

5) Foliage scrolls: