Lecture 3: Romanesque Sculpture and Architecture
constructed. Another legend recounted James’s miraculous appearance in the
early 10th century as a warrior who repelled the Moorish army’s advance
through Spain.There were four major pilgrimage roads to Santiago: one began in Paris,
another in Burgundy at Vézelay, another in southwestern France at Le Puy,
and yet another in Arles near Provence. Because the pilgrims required food,
lodging, and care on their long journeys, numerous churches and monasteries
were built along the way. These establishments provided physical and
spiritual necessities—for a price—and local towns bene¿ ted from
the tourism.The cult of relics—bones of saints and other personal effects—grew during
this period because relics gave churches special attractions. This brief
background of pilgrimage routes helps explain the presence of Romanesque-
period churches scattered throughout France.The city of Autun, in eastern France, boasts one of the most important
Romanesque churches, Saint-Lazare (St. Lazarus). This church contains
many relief sculptures, all carved from 1120–1130. They include
the following:- The tympanum (lunette above the lintel of the doorway) contains the
Last Judgment. This sculpture is signed “Gislebertus”—one of the rare
artists of the Middle Ages who is known to us by name. - Hanging of Judas, in the nave, depicts Judas being assisted in his suicide
by two demons. These ¿ gures have many expressive features. - Annunciation to the Magi depicts an angel appearing to the magi, telling
them to follow the star. - Temptation of Eve is a fragment of a relief sculpture. It was formerly on
the lintel of a À anking door, between Adam and the tempter, and it is
now in the Musée Rolin in Autun.