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Saturday 23 November updated on 11-23-2024 at 8:06
Saturday 23 November updated on 11-23-2024 at 8:06
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Inspired by great artists like Bernini, Borromoni, Guarino Garini, Baroque art appeared in Italy and developed in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. At this time, the churches and chapels of Savoy, often of medieval origin, were enlarged or transformed. If the exterior remains sober, the interior is richly decorated: in the choir, the altarpiece attracts all eyes and becomes a real catechism in images. Baroque is the art of staging, of movement with the play of drapery and light, trompe l'oeil, gilding and bright colors, curves and counter-curves, volutes, dramatization and theatrical productions... It is the expression of grandeur and excess to seduce the faithful.
The first church, perched on a hill, was replaced in the 13th-14th centuries by a Romanesque building, constructed at the foot of the hill. The church was extended between 1675 and 1678 and today features a chancel and vaulted ceiling adorned with a host of holy characters.
The building, which was modified during the 17th century, retains a few elements of the original church - most notably, the ogive arches above the side entrance door - constructed in the 15th century at the foot of Saint-Sigismond hill. The main portal, made from grey marble extracted from the nearby Vilette quarry, is directly inspired by the principles laid down by François Cuenot in his 1660 book on architecture.
The trompe l'oeil paintings on the vaulted ceiling were commissioned in the mid 19th century and executed by three brothers: Alexandre, Auguste and Antoine Artari, artists from Valsesia in the Piedmont region. They represent the four major Old Testament prophets, the Evangelists and the Four Fathers of the Latin Church.
The sculptor, Jean-Baptiste Delponte, rebuilt the main altarpiece in 1813 using those elements of the original altarpiece, designed by Jacques Clérant , that escaped the destruction of the French Revolution as well drawings of the early altarpiece. In the centre, is a 1803 painting by Jean-Pierre Tosi of the Nativity of the Virgin, framed by twisted columns adorned with grape vines and rose bushes, with Saint Peter on one side and Saint Paul on the other.
The second register pays tribute to Saint Grat, frequently invoked to protect harvests and Saint Roch, who offered protection against plague, accompanied by Saint Jacques (John) and Saint-François-de-Sales. The pulpit, which was carved by Jean-François Bernard in 1705, and the choir stalls created by Pierre Chanu in 1728 - used for addressing the congregation and providing seating for revolutionary officials - were saved in 1794, unlike the altarpieces: the six that you can see in the side aisles are Neo-classical style, 19th century restorations.
All year round, daily between 9 am and 6 pm.
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