Amiens Before and During the War 2

Amiens Before and During the War 2

E--Belfry, p. 47.

 

D--Church of St. Germain, pp. 47-48.

 

K--Maison du Sagittaire (Archers' House), p. 48.

 

2--Place des Huchers, rue du Don and neighhouring streets, pp. 49-52

 

3--Hocquet Canal, p. 50.

 

4--Panorama of the Boulevard de Beauvillé, p. 50.

 

5--Rue des Bouchers, p. 54.

 

6--Rue des Tanneurs and Hôtel Morgan de Belloy, pp. 54-55.

 

B--Hôtel Morgan de Belloy, p. 55.

]

 

 

 

 

ITINERARY

 

 

THE CATHEDRAL--VISIT TO THE TOWN

 

_See opposite: Coloured plan, with detailed plan of centre of town and

outline of itinerary at back._

 

 

What the Tourist should see

 

_Do not omit_: =The Cathedral= (_pp. 9-36_) especially the western and

southern doorways, nave, stalls, and carving in the choir aisles.

 

Of great interest: PICARDY MUSEUM (_pp. 40-45_).

 

Archæological curiosities: FAÇADE OF THEATRE (_p. 35_), OLD HOUSES (_pp.

47-56_), CHURCHES OF ST. LEU (_pp. 52-53_), ST. GERMAIN (_pp. 47-48_)

AND ST. RÉMY (_p. 37_).

 

Picturesque sights: ST. LEU QUARTER (_p. 52_), THE HORTILLONNAGES (_p.

51_).

 

Walks: HOTOIE PARK (_p. 55_), NEW BOULEVARDS, and THE RUE DE BEAUVAIS

(_p. 45_), whose ruins attest the violence of the bombardment.

 

_Specialities_: Macaroons, potted duck.

 

 

Itinerary recommended for visiting Amiens

 

(_Distance: 6½ miles_)

 

_Starting point: Place de la Cathédrale._

 

 

THE CATHEDRAL (_historical monument_)

 

=The Cathedral at Amiens= is the most perfect example of Gothic

architecture extant, realizing as it does to the full, the possibilities

of this style. According to Viollet-le-Duc, it is pre-eminently an

"ogival church."

 

The Cathedral is typical, both from an architectural point of view, and

also on account of its statues, which form one of the finest collections

of Middle-Age sculpture. From an iconographic standpoint, this statuary

constitutes one of the most complete summaries of the religious thought

of past centuries.

 

The Cathedral (_see plan, p. 22_) covers a ground surface of about 9,000

square yards. Measured on the outside, it has a total length of about

480 feet and a width of 230 feet at the transept. It is the largest

church in France.

 

The construction of the principal façade and nave was begun in 1220,

from plans prepared by the architect, Robert de Luzarches, who was

succeeded in his task by Thomas de Cormont and afterwards by his son,

Renaud de Cormont.

 

Although no Cathedral has ever been built in entire conformity with the

original plans, that of Amiens was probably completed more quickly than

any other, and with less alteration of the original designs.

 

In 1269, fifty years after the commencement of the building operations,

there only remained to be built the upper portion of the west façade and

the two great rose-windows of the transept.

 

The only important alteration made in the original plans was the

addition, in the 14th century, of chapels between the buttresses and

flying-buttresses of the nave.

 

The Cathedral is built of grey limestone, on foundations 26 feet thick.

 

 

West Façade

 

The upper portion, consisting of two towers of unequal height, finished

in different styles, belongs to the 14th century. The north tower, which

is the higher, contains the great bells. The openings are decorated with

statues of the Apostles, which have been either restored or renewed.

 

The upper storey of the south tower contains two bays with openings

surmounted by gables. It is terminated by a pointed roof with a

dormer-window and lead spikes. A gallery, called the ringers' gallery,

with covered arcades surmounted by pinnacles and turrets, connects the

two towers.

 

[Illustration: WEST FAÇADE]

 

Below this gallery is the great rose-window, of which the frame-work

only belongs to the 13th century. The mullions are in the Flamboyant

style. Below, running the whole length of the façade, are two superposed

galleries.

 

The first contains twenty-two giant statues (over twelve feet high) of

crowned kings bearing sceptres in their hands.

 

These statues have given rise to much controversy, some holding that

they represent the kings of Judah, others, the kings of France.

 

The second gallery corresponds to the triforium in the interior.

 

Lastly, comes the great doorway (_photo below_) with its three large

doors. On either side of the lateral doors are massive buttresses which

gradually taper off, rising to the upper part of the façade.

 

On the front side of each are three statues of the lesser prophets, with

their most notable prophecies carved in the quatre-foils of the

bas-reliefs below.

 

The whole of the statuary of the great doorway dates back approximately

to the period 1225-1235.

 

 

Central Doorway (_Door of St. Saviour_)

 

On the dividing pier: Statue of Christ, known as the "Beautiful God of

Amiens" (_photos p. 12_).

 

Trampling the lion and dragon under-foot, he is blessing with his right

hand, while in his left he holds a closed book.

 

On the socle are carved an asp and basilisk, symbolical of the "Evil One

vanquished by Christ!"

 

On the lower portion of the pillar is a crowned king, probably Solomon.

 

The two sides of the great doorway are similar in design.

 

(_a_) On the jambs of the door:

 

To the right of Christ are the five wise virgins bearing lamps full of

oil in their hands. In the lower arcade, a vigorous tree represents the

Bible bringing forth good fruit.

 

[Illustration: GREAT DOORWAY OF WEST FAÇADE (_Cliché LL_).]

 

[Illustration:

 

ST. FIRMIN'S DOOR ST.-SAVIOUR'S DOOR "MOTHER-OF-GOD" DOOR

]

 

[Illustration: "BEAUTIFUL GOD" STATUE ON DIVIDING PILLAR OF CENTRAL

DOOR.]

 

To the left of Christ are seen the five foolish virgins holding their

lamps, reversed, while below is the "tree of evil" with withered trunk.

 

(_b_) On the piers of each splaying:

 

Six apostles and two of the greater prophets. These statues are nearly

eight feet in height.

 

Nearly all the Apostles resemble Christ, having the same type of face

(generally pronounced oval) and the same serene and noble __EXPRESSION__.

 

On the basements, to the right and left:

 

1. Underneath the statues of the greater prophets four quatre-foils

represent their principal prophecies.

 

2. Below the statues of the Apostles are twelve medallions in two rows.

The upper one represents the six Virtues and the lower one the opposing

Vices.

 

The Virtues are grave women seated, each with a shield bearing a

distinctive emblem. On the other hand, the Vices are depicted by

gesture.

 

The tympanum (_photo p. 13_) represents the complete story of the Last

Judgment:

 

_Lower portion_: Above the lintel, which is decorated with a frieze of

finely carved foliage, the resurrection is depicted. The dead, awakened

by angels blowing trumpets, leave their graves. They are young, and

either naked or scantily clothed.

 

In the centre St. Michael weighs the souls in a balance. In one of the

scales is the Lamb of God which "taketh away the sins of the world,"

while in the other is the head of a demon.

 

_Middle portion_: Separation of the good from the evil.

 

To the left, the elect, clothed and serene, ascend to Heaven, where they

are received by St. Peter; to the right, a demon pushes the condemned

into an enormous pair of open jaws representing the infernal regions.

 

_Upper portion_: Christ, surrounded by the Virgin and St. John kneeling,

and by angels bearing the instruments of the Passion, judges mankind.

 

Above, in the point of the arch, the "Son of Man" half emerges from

clouds, having in his mouth two swords. On either side is an angel, one

bearing the sun, the other the moon, represented by discs.

 

The eight borders which form the arches on either side of the tympanum

contain over 150 statues representing the celestial hierarchy.

 

In the lower row of the first six borders, scenes relating to the Last

Judgment are also represented.

 

[Illustration: HEAD OF THE "BEAUTIFUL GOD" STATUE.]

 

[Illustration: TYMPANUM OF CENTRAL DOORWAY. (_page 12_) THE LAST

JUDGMENT. (_Cliché LL_).]

 

[Illustration: DETAILS OF CENTRAL PORCH (_left-hand side_)

 

The Apostles are represented in the following order (_from left to

right_):

 

_St. Peter_, with cross and keys.

 

_St. Andrew_, with cross.

 

_St. James_, with sword (recalling his martyrdom), and wallet.

 

_St. John_, with beardless face, holds a cup, out of which comes a

serpent.

 

The last two, with palm branch and axe, have not been identified.

 

The two prophets on the right are _Isaiah_ (scroll) and _Jeremiah_

(cross).

 

CENTRAL

PORCH

(_left-hand

side_).

]

 

[Illustration: DIVIDING PILLAR OF "MOTHER-OF-GOD" DOOR WITH VIRGIN.]

 

 

"Mother-of-God" door

 

(_See photo p. 11_)

 

This doorway has been dedicated to the Virgin, and forms one of the most

complete representations of the worship of Mary produced by the

iconographic statuary of the Middle Ages.

 

On the pier: A remarkably fine statue of the Virgin, belonging to the

first half of the 13th century (_photo opposite_).

 

The six bas-reliefs of the pier basement represent the story of Adam and

Eve: Creation of man--creation of woman--warning not to touch the

forbidden fruit--the original sin--expulsion from the Garden of

Eden--Adam and Eve at work.

 

On each side of the Virgin, in the splaying of the door, are six large

statues:--

 

_To the left_: The Wise Men of the East offer presents to the child

Jesus; Herod questions the Wise Men; Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.

 

_To the right_: Three groups of statues in pairs represent the

Annunciation, Visitation, and Presentation (_photo below_).

 

_From left to right_:

 

1. Annunciation: Gabriel and Mary.

 

2. Visitation: Mary and Elizabeth.

 

3. Presentation: Virgin and Child and the High Priest Simeon.

 

The first two groups are especially remarkable for nobleness of attitude

and harmonious robes.

 

On the basements, in the quatre-foil medallions, are carved various

biblical scenes relating to the large statues surmounting them.

 

_To the right_, under the _Annunciation_, four medallions with figures

of the Virgin according to the Mosaic Law: _The Stone rolling down from

the Mountain_; _Gideon's fleece_.

 

Below: _The Burning Bush_; _Aaron's Rod_.

 

Under the _Visitation_: _The Nativity of St. John the Baptist_;

_Annunciation of the coming birth of John, to Zachariah_; _Zachariah

struck_

 

[Illustration: "MOTHER-OF-GOD" DOOR.]

 

_dumb for unbelief_. Below: _Birth of St. John_ and _Zachariah naming

the child John_.

 

Under the _Presentation_ are four scenes from the childhood of Christ:

_Flight into Egypt_; _Falling down of the Egyptian Idols at the approach

of Jesus_. Below: _Jesus in the midst of the Doctors_; _Jesus taken back

to Nazareth_ (_photo p. 14_).

 

To the left, under _The Wise Men and Herod_, story of the Wise Men:

_Balaam's star_; _Micah's prophecy at Bethlehem_; _The Wise Men before

Herod_; _Massacre of the Innocents_. Below: _The Wise Men warned in a

dream to return by another way_; _the Wise Men depart by ship from

Tharsis_; _Burning of the Fleet of Tharsis_; _Herod orders the ships of

Tharsis to be burnt_.

 

Under _Salomon and the Queen of Sheba_; _Solomon receives the Queen of

Sheba_; _Solomon on his throne_; _Solomon's feast_. Below: _Solomon

praying_; _Solomon shows his treasures to the Queen of Sheba_.

 

The tympanum (_photo below_) is divided into three parts:

 

1. Six patriarchs or prophets.

 

2. _Left_: Burial of the Virgin. _Right_: The Assumption.

 

3. Crowning of the Virgin.

 

In the arches are angels bearing censers, the Kings of Judah and other

ancestors of the Virgin.

 

[Illustration: TYMPANUM OF THE "MOTHER-OF-GOD" DOOR.]

 

 

St. Firmin's door (_see p. 11_)

 

This door was dedicated to the religious history of Picardy.

 

A fine statue of St. Firmin, first bishop of Amiens, adorns the dividing

pier. Crosier in hand and mitre on head, he blesses the faithful (_photo

below_).

 

[Illustration: ST. FIRMIN'S DOOR.

 

_Left_: St Firmin blessing. _Right_: 6 statues of bishops and martyrs.

_In medallions_: Peasants' calendar (_December-May_) with zodiacal

signs.]

 

On either side are six large statues representing the most notable among

the first bishops, martyrs, and saints of the diocese (_photo above_).

 

Scenes illustrating the round of tasks of the peasants are carved in the

medallions on the basement. Above each scene of digging, reaping,

harvesting, etc., appears the zodiacal sign of the corresponding month.

 

In the calendar of Amiens, the year opens with the month of December and

the sign of Capricorn (_first medallion on the right_).

 

The reading of the calendar should begin there (_photo above_).

 

_December._ The peasant kills his pig for the feasts at the end

of the year.

_January._ He is seated at a well supplied table.

_February._ He warms himself at the fire.

_March._ Work begins again in the fields; tilling the soil.

_April._ Pruning the vines.

_May._ The peasant rests before the labours of Summer.

 

The calendar terminates on the left-hand side of the basement.

 

The tympanum (_photo p. 17_) depicts the history of the relics of St.

Firmin:

 

1st portion: Six bishops seated.

 

2nd portion: Discovery of the body of St. Firmin by the bishop St.

Sauve.

 

3rd portion: Solemn translation of the relics.

 

Statues of angels appear on the borders of the arches.