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Ruillé-sur-Loir

Sarthe (72)

French original

(Sarthe)

Eglise Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul

The Romanesque part of the church (12th century) consists of the nave and choir. The rest was added in the 16th century.
The Romanesque part of the church (12th century) consists of the nave and choir. The rest was added in the 16th century.
The west door
The west door

En 1996, des peintures murales du XIIème siècle ont été découvertes dns sur le mur occidental du clocher. Elles représentent un jugement dernier et la partie visible couvre une surface de 3 mètres de hauteur sur 8 mètres de largeur. La scéne est peinte sur deux registres: au registre supérieur, le Christ est assis entoré d'anges qui portent les instruments de la Passion (croix, lance...) Au registre inférieur, les morts tirés de leur sommeil par les trompettes des anges et les élus sont représentés dans des sortes de niches (représentation habituelle du Paradis au Moyen-Age) Les peintures ont été exécutées en partie "a fresco" et en partie "à la détrempe" (voir "Techniques des peintures murales")

In 1996, 13th-century wall paintings were discovered on the west wall of the tower. They represent a Last Judgement,. A rectangle about 9 feet high and 24 feet wide has been uncovered and cleaned. The scene is divided into two registers: in the upper register, Christ is sitting, surrounded by angels that carry the instruments of the Passion (cross, spear...) In the lower register, the dead are roused from their sleep by the angels' trumpets and the elect are represented in niches ( the usual representation of Paradise in the Middle Ages) The paintings were executed partly "a fresco" and partly "in tempera." See "Wall paintings (techniques)"

The two registers
The two registers
Angel carrying the cross of the Passion
Angel carrying the cross of the Passion
Angel rousing the dead from their sleep
Angel rousing the dead from their sleep
One of the elect in a niche surmounted by a trefoil arch
One of the elect in a niche surmounted by a trefoil arch

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