Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: crane

Augustodunum (today Autun) was founded during the reign of Augustus, after whom it was named. It was an important settlement, the Roman theather, partly unearthed, could seat about 15.000 people, there is a Roman temple, walls... But it is the Cathédrale Saint-Lazare and the wonderful carvings, that made me return again and again. There had been a church here earlier, that was just too small, when Autun became a center of pilgrimage, after relics of St. Lazarus were kept here since about 970. Just like Vezelay, 90kms north, where the relics of St. Lazarus´ sister St. Maria Magdalena were kept at that time. In 1120 it was decided to construct this larger and more suitable cathedral. At that time this construction was influenced by Cluny III, that was a little older. After severe damage during the Hundred Years' War, rebuilding and remodeling the romanesque structure started. The tympanum, a masterpiece, signed by Gislebertus, survived accidently pretty undamaged, as it was hidden under thick plaster for many decades. Many other carvings, carved by Gislebertus (or his workshop) are in and outside the cathedral. Aesop´s fable "The Wolf and the Crane" A wolf, having a bone stuck in his throat, hired a crane to put her head into his throat and draw out the bone. When the crane had extracted the bone, and demanded the promised payment, the wolf exclaimed: "Why, you have surely already a sufficient recompense, in having been permitted to draw out your head in safety from the mouth and jaws of a wolf." This capital is on the very right side of the portal. It corresponds to the very left one. See PiP (right corner).

The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Located in the center of La Celle (pop 350) is Saint Blaise, the fromer priory´s church. It was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure started to crack. The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Saint Blaise, the priory´s church, was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure of the nave started to crack. Here are some extraordinary, complex carvings. Cranes, probably dancing. The artist for sure never had been in Japan, but he somehow knew about the Japanese Cranes Dance. - Or the species is exstict in Europe, but existed 1000 years ago. www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8qprOG2LxY As quarries near the village were already used since Roman times, some stone mason masters may have worked here in medieval times. St. Blasie, one of the "Fourteen Holy Helpers", is the parton saint for stone masons and carvers. Today he is better known for the "Blessing of the Throats", celebrated on he Feast of Saint Blasie (February 3.).

In the center of Modena, where the Duomo di Modena (aka "Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e San Geminiano") is placed, churches have existed since the 5th century. After the burial site of Modena's patron Saint Geminianus, a former bishop (+397), was dicovered here, the existing cathedral seemed to small. The first stone laying for the cathedral of today took place in May 1099, strongly supported by Matilde di Canossa (aka "Matilda of Tuscany"). First architect was Master Lanfranco, descibed as "maestro ingenio clarus [...] doctus et aptus". The Duomo di Modena was consecrated in 1184, but the building process continued. It was finally completed in 1322. Many renowned sculptors have worked here. The "Porta della Pescheria", as well as side portal, opens to the north, where in mediavel times the fish-market was located. The "Porta della Pescheria", as well as side portal, opens to the north, where in mediavel times the fish-market was located. I learned that the archivolt depicts a scene from the Arthurian Legend. Older Welsh and Breton tales about Artur were written down in the "Historia Regum Britanniae" written by Geoffrey of Monmouth around 1136. This carving may be a little older. It is dated to 1130. Artus is the second on the left, the only one without a chainmail. The lintel has other stories. To the left a young nude guy rided a hippocamus. The followig reliefs may relate to the French "Roman de Renart", written by Pierre de St. Cloud from 1174 on, based party on Aesop's fables. The artists probably knew as well the "Physiologus".

The former church of a priory, built 1150/1170, got remodelled quite often over the centuries. This was done not only by architects, but as well by clerics. The church was dedicated to St. Genesius first, then to St. Limin, followed by Saint-Martin. In the 19th century the dedication changed to Saint-Bonnet and some decades ago to Saint-Bénilde, a saint born in Thuret in 1805 under the name Pierre Romançon. There are interesting carvings here. Ever since the art history discovered them as specific works of art, they have been a subject in the literature. B. Craplet ("Auvergne roman", 1992) describes the carvings just as "unskilled". He in general disagrees with Z. Swiechowski ("Sculpture Romane D'auvergne", 1973), who sees this as the work of "naive folk art". A. Gybal ("L´Auvergne, berceau de l´artroman", 1958) describes a specific "Thuret-style" being a totally simplified work of art. Only to be found here. For him, the implification is the result of the artists inspiration. He makes totally clear, that this is not "folk art" ("l`art populaire"), but the result of artistic work of very skilled monks ("moines tres cultives"). A long legged wader-bird (stork? crane?) with large bills has caught a very long snake. A small lion (?) on the side. All set in a floral composition.

Mantua (ital. Mantova) was a settlemt on the banks of River Mincio in Etruscan times. In Roman times veteran soldiers were placed here. About 70 BC the Roman poet Virgil (aka "Publius Vergilius Maro") was born nearby. After the end of the Roman Empire Mantua was invaded in turn by Goths, Byzantines, Longobards, and Franks. In the 11th century, Mantua became a possession of Boniface of Canossa, marquis of Tuscany. During the 12th century the course of the River Mincio was altered, creating lakes, to reinforce the city's natural protection. Three of these lakes still remains today. Under the House of Gonzaga, that ruled Mantua for more than three centuries (sometimes in a very despotic way), the city developed and became a center of Renaissance art. At the end of the long war of the Mantuan Succession the city was under Austrian rule. Mantua was part of the Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy, the city returned to Austria in 1814. A revolt against the Austrians was suppressed by the Austrian army in 1855. Finally in 1866 Mantua and the Lombardy were incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy. The "Rotonda di San Lorenzo", here seen from the Piazza della Erbe, is the oldest structure in Mantua, going back to the 11th century. This was the building I was most interested in in Mantua. The rotunda was open for visitors, but, just like the neighbouring "Palazzo della Ragione", the church was hidden under a scaffolding. I learned from a construction worker, that within the next weeks, the renovation of the round church would be completed. So I had to return to Mantua - later again.

Mantua (ital. Mantova) was a settlemt on the banks of River Mincio in Etruscan times. In Roman times veteran soldiers were placed here. About 70 BC the Roman poet Virgil (aka "Publius Vergilius Maro") was born nearby. After the end of the Roman Empire Mantua was invaded in turn by Goths, Byzantines, Longobards, and Franks. In the 11th century, Mantua became a possession of Boniface of Canossa, marquis of Tuscany. During the 12th century the course of the River Mincio was altered, creating lakes, to reinforce the city's natural protection. Three of these lakes still remains today. Under the House of Gonzaga, that ruled Mantua for more than three centuries (sometimes in a very despotic way), the city developed and became a center of Renaissance art. At the end of the long war of the Mantuan Succession the city was under Austrian rule. Mantua was part of the Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy, the city returned to Austria in 1814. A revolt against the Austrians was suppressed by the Austrian army in 1855. Finally in 1866 Mantua and the Lombardy were incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy. The "Rotonda di San Lorenzo" is the oldest structure in Mantua, going back to the 11th century. This was the building I was most interested in in Mantua. The rotunda was open for visitors, but, just like the neighbouring "Palazzo della Ragione", the church was hidden under a scaffolding. I learned from a construction worker, that within the next weeks, the renovation of the round church would be completed. So I had to return to Mantua - later again.

A large Romanesque church, belonging to the Augustinian Abbey of Saint-Étienne de Mortagne (15kms south), got erected in Coze within the 12t/13th century. The abbey went under, the church got altered and finally in disrepair. In 1756 the vaults of the nave collapsed and it took great efforts to rebuilt the church within the 19th century. Some parts of the nave are dating back to the Romanesque structure. On the outside are two extraordenary capitals, illustrating "The Fox and the Stork", one of Aesop´s Fables, that were very popular in medieval times. Here is part 2 The stork then invites the fox to have a meal. This is served in a narrow-necked vessel. It is easy for the stork to access the food but impossible for the fox. Unfortunetaly the stork lost its beak.

A large Romanesque church, belonging to the Augustinian Abbey of Saint-Étienne de Mortagne (15kms south), got erected in Coze within the 12t/13th century. The abbey went under, the church got altered and finally in disrepair. In 1756 the vaults of the nave collapsed and it took great efforts to rebuilt the church within the 19th century. Some parts of the nave are dating back to the Romanesque structure. On the outside are two extraordenary capitals, illustrating "The Fox and the Stork", one of Aesop´s Fables, that were very popular in medieval times. Here is part 1: A fox invites a stork to have dinner with him and provides soup in a shallow bowl. The fox can lap up the soup easily, while the stork cannot drink it with its beak.