necessitating exterior wall buttresses. Each corner pier of the north gallery has three
figures with relief sculpture between them, which visually support the diagonal arch and
the two transverse arches, while the two intermediate piers have single projecting figures
supporting the transverse arch and recessed flanking figures.
Trophimus is on the northwest corner pier, and St. Stephen, to whom the church was
first dedicated, is on the northeast. They are flanked by Peter and Paul. The intermediate
piers contain Christ between two pilgrims, which combine Christ meeting the Apostles
on the road to Emmaus and the Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. The eastern,
intermediate pier depicts Christ between James and Thomas.
Two sculptors appear to be responsible for the monumental sculpture in the north
gallery. One, influenced by the sculpture of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, carved, in order, small
Christ, Peter, Paul, John, James; the other, more influenced by western French sculpture,
created Stephen, Trophimus, Christ, two pilgrims, and Thomas. The Peter-Paul Master
carved more of the historiated capitals. In the east gallery (1150s–60s), the capitals depict
scenes from the Incarnation and the Passion of Christ. More sculptors were involved, and
some relationship with Italian sculpture is evident.
Arles (Bouches-du-Rhône), Saint-
Trophime, cloister, pier. St. Peter.
Photograph courtesy of Whitney
S.Stoddard.
Medieval france: an encyclopedia 120